Bizet - Carmen / Delacole, Ewing, Trussel, Earl's Court

Rating:
Summary: Try Baltsa or Mignes Johnson
Review: There are three other Carmens on DVD and all of them are better than this one. Even better is the Karajan that was released on laser and will perhaps make it to DVD. If you insist on Maria Ewing get her other one.The staging is not misguided and I think the singing and her supporting cast is better. I prefer Carreras and Baltsa and Ramey and the Metropolitian Opera who give a great performance. The movie with Raimondi and Mignes Johnson and Domingo and is terrific. Both also have great Michaelas. Both of these DVD's also provide French as well as English subtitles,and wouldn't it be nice if original language subtitles were available for all opera DVD releases. They all CAN do it but they all don't because they are just not willing to put in the little bit of extra effort that makes the difference. 2 stars instead of 1 just out of respect for the music. Better to have this Carmen than no Carmen.

Rating:
Summary: Electrifying Carmen!
Review: When looking for Carmen on DVD I read the reviews and picked this one because of the special staging ant the flamenco extra and I was not disappointed!
A grand-scale production with a large cast of 80,beautifully staged and with an extra 10 minutes flamenco dance.
Maria Ewing combines great singing with powerful acting.Her Carmen is vivid,sensual and full of passion.
The best Carmen I have seen.
If you want to "hear" the opera then you may find better versions on CD,but if you want to"see" the opera, this is the DVD to buy!
I liked the staging,the choreography and the acting.
I give it only 4 stars because of the supporting casting which is good but no more.