[CROSS-POSTED FROM THE FLATLAND CHRONICLES] I'm not comparing the technical proficiency of these singers and do not intend to comment. Everyone has an iconic Carmen. These are some different conceptions of her. Back in the day when I hoped to make myself a singer, I wanted so badly to grow up to be her. I had the idea of playing her with wit rather than the smouldering, half-threatening seductiveness that is usually her lot.
However, speaking of seductive....opera doesn't get any grander than this: Callas singing anything at all. I not only love her voice; I love the way her face changes into Carmen's the minute she starts singing. But her voice is not the voice of the True Carmen as I secretly conceive her. Callas's voice is too pure, like liquid light. I admit that she really puts across the sexual intensity. I don't know. It's pretty damn compelling.
Carmen's ought to be rich and rough, like certain types of red wine. She's a virago. She's got an almost masculine sensuality. That's why poor Don Jose has no chance against alpha dog Escamillo, the bullfighter.
Frankly, Lori-Kaye Miller's voice is more in line with my idea of Carmen's. I like a lot more mezzo in Carmen's soprano. And there's that slightly ragged edge. Je l'adore!!!
On the other hand, here's a very seductive version featuring Julia Migenes, though (speaking as a mere viewer of this one scene), I'd prefer a more highly-colored set. This is like Carmen as imagined by Miles Crane: all beige everywhere: ecru, wheat, ivory, etc. etc. Meh.
Romanian soprano Angele Gheorghia sings it. She's extremely beautiful in that "old Hollywood" way. It's not because she's Romanian, but something about her hungry expression as she sings that suggests to me a new permutation on an old theme: Vampire Carmen. That would be awesome....Say she first turns Don Jose into a vampire and then he stakes her at the end.... Anyway, a beautiful voice and a beautiful singer and another great version.
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