Jonas Kaufmann and Anna Caterina Antonacci bring rare erotic intensity to the drama of Don José and Carmen in this darkly passionate reading of one of the most popular operas. Kaufmann uses his burnished tenor and smouldering good looks to portray the man undone by Carmen's love. As the object of his desire, Antonacci gives a physical and compelling performance.
Acting
Antonacci's Carmen — feral, unpredictable, impossible to look away from.
Direction
Haswell stages intimacy like a knife fight.
Score
Bizet's melodies weaponized by two voices at absolute peak.
Director
Jonathan Haswell
Anna Caterina Antonacci
Carmen
Jonas Kaufmann
Don Jose
Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Escamillo
Norah Amsellem
Micaela
Caroline Lena Olsson
Lillas Pastia
Matthew Rose
Zuniga
Jacques Imbrailo
Morales
Elena Xanthoudakis
Frasquita
Jean-Sébastien Bou
Dancairo
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt
Remendado
Anthony Debaeck
Guide
Antonio Pappano
Conductor
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kaufmann and Antonacci had never performed this pairing before; their chemistry was discovered in rehearsals.
This 2007 Royal Opera House production revived interest in 'regie-theater' approaches to canonical works.
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