Carmen: “Près des remparts de Séville”

Aigul Akhmetshina and Piotr Beczała sing an excerpt from the title character and Don José’s Act I duet in the final dress rehearsal. Production: Carrie Cracknell. Conductor: Daniele Rustioni. 2023-24 season.

[@jeffk5142]

A stunning mezzo voice, effortless Carmen.

[@lindabondperry]

❤

[@idv__galafx]

I saw her live and her voice is even more impressive and beautiful live. The recording doesn't do justice to the sheer power and expressiveness she commands. I sat at the very back of the house and she was never drowned out or inaudible.

[@andrewcorals5006]

absolutely outstanding voice! hope to hear her live someday

[@emileblazyte5621]

The BEST production i have ever seen. Her voice is just magical and I just can’t stop listening to those videos and neither I can get them stop playing in my head all the time🤗. Everything in this opera was spectacular❤❤❤❤❤

[@edryanlovesopera]

Bravaaa Aigul, perfect singing !

[@Christinebord]

J'adore. Et les voix et la mise en scène. Tres credible cette Carmen contemporaine. Tres belle interprétation, tres belles voix, surtout la mezzo soprano. Bravi !

[@margheritapastore2852]

Ottimo mezzosoprano‼️🌹

[@maestroclassico5801]

She sounds awesome. I hate productions like this though. Where is this supposed to be?

[@Christinebord]

As she repeats quiet a few times, in Sevilla, Spain. Not necesseraly in the nineteen century With a little bit of imagination it could be nowadays. Bizet wanted to discribe the tragical destiny of a free women. And so did Halevy in the libretto. The spirit and meaning of the whole opera is still extremely clear here. So, what's the point ? Do you really need " this is a prison in Sevilla" written over the scene to be able understanding the spirit of Carmen ?

[@maestroclassico5801]

​@@Christinebordok I'm very aware of the libretto where she mentions Seville, Spain multiple times but does this look like Seville, Spain to YOU? In ANY century?

[@Christinebord]

​@@maestroclassico5801it seems to me that SHE iis Carmen, anywhere, in any time : a free and passionate women. And it doesn't really matter if she wears an habaneira dress , or if the caporal as the real uniform of a sevillian guard. Carmen is more than that. And, not the less important, beautiful, powerful voices.

[@maestroclassico5801]

@@Christinebord Right but you still didn't answer my question.

[@CrustyJoeMC]

@@maestroclassico5801 According to the program, it is set in America.

[@elmerhuertaacarapi366]

"Près des remparts de Séville..." "Je suis Escamillo, Torero de Grenade!" "Halte-là! Qui va là? Dragon d'Alcala!" The whole Opera makes a lot of references to major cities from Spain (Seviile, Granade, Alcalá de Henares) So, you can't play this and say that it's in Canada or New York, unless you can change the lyrics and in that case, the thing goes so far away from Bizet's Carmen.

[@gilbertopineda7883]

👏🏻👍🏻👌🏻

[@susanlloyd7395]

Whoa.

[@charlyhoermann5446]

wow - how fitting - "today"

[@evelynwehbe]

Beautiful voice Aigul❤❤

[@loeshalberstadt9998]

I am fan Aigul sinds so beautifull

[@rayoflightshines]

Amazing female singer

[@marydely0880]

Bravissimo!🎉❤

[@rosy3385]

Les voix sont belles mais pas la mise en scène !!! Que fait donc le MET en ce moment ???

[@packer812]

The old production was perfect. Why change it?

[@divergentthg7925]

As they said in the behind the scenes of the live production of the weekend that they changed it for a modern time and since it is a very popular play that has been played quite often the same routine it gives a little bit of different tastes. It is not to disrespect but to help newer people also to understand the characters in a different light. Not everybody can understand 200 years ago thought process. So they tried to do a little change for a modern thing. However funny to listen to so many people claim it's bad but yet not one of them will go up there to show a better way to do it😂

[@StellaMotinaVeraBogdanchikova]

bravissima Aigul!!!!

[@jerzypiotrowski1722]

Ukochany Don Chose Piotrze Beczała to Cud że Polska ma tak wspaniałego Tenora Brawo na stojąco Młoda Carmen wybita wróżbę Jej Wielką, karierę Michaela także świetna Wielkie Owacje Giorgio

[@user-zh1ve8xz1u]

She IS Carmen.

[@nataliaskopylova1064]

Лучшая!

[@maryvallettakeith6146]

Great voice, but why oh why must they make Carmen a trashy tramp? The Met is such a tryhard. This is not the character as written.

[@o.mcneely4424]

Carmen is literally written as a cigarette factory worker who gets arrested for stabbing her coworker. She hangs out with smugglers, has a very famous aria about how she flits from lover to lover, and happily seduces an engaged man. She’s marvelously trashy and that’s why we love her.

[@RychaardRyder]

Imagine going back in time and telling the composers one day his work will be performed amazingly but the singer would be wearing JEAN SHORTS

[@williammountfield8508]

It’s a shame that one of the few good casting decisions the met has made in recent years is ruined by such a terrible production.

[@natnerdz]

I don’t know, I think it’s a good idea to bring these older operas and put them in a modern setting. While opera is an art form that’s been known for centuries, the modern era for lack of a better word seems to dwindle in terms of caring for it. So, putting these well-known pieces into settings that a younger audience can relate to, may help change their minds. Along with this rendition of Carmen, I also also saw champion. While that one was an original piece, it certainly had potential into becoming something bigger and bringing people into the world of that man’s life.

[@christopherprior-jones4826]

By far and away the most captivating production of Carmen that I have ever seen

[@vero9348]

Is it really that difficult just to create new operas instead of rewriting perfect good old ones