Carmen in 3D: movie review
One of the most heartening theatrical developments in recent years has been the success of the Metropolitan Opera HD broadcasts. Now in its fifth season, these transmissions bring opera to audiences in locations far from the Met鈥檚 New York home base.
鈥淐armen in 3D鈥� is a further extension of this concept. Bizet鈥檚 classic opera, originally devised by Francesca Zambello for London鈥檚 Royal Opera House and directed for film by Julian Napier, utilizes 3-D to bring us into the experience. (It will play beginning this weekend in 750 theaters across America and many more throughout the world.)
Two performances and one dress rehearsal of 鈥淐armen鈥� were filmed with a full-throated cast including Christine Rice as the temptress Carmen, Bryan Hymel as the spurned Don Jos茅, and Aris Argiris as the imperious Escamillo.
At 175 minutes, plus intermission, this 鈥淐armen鈥� is a long haul, and the 3-D doesn鈥檛 add appreciably to the wraparound intensity of Bizet鈥檚 score. Also, the subtitles are too small. But it鈥檚 worth the immersion 鈥� a great opera, beautifully sung and excitingly staged, is a movie rarity. And if this is still not enough 鈥淐armen鈥� for you, try renting Francesco Rosi鈥檚 great 1984 version with Julia Migenes-Johnson and Placido Domingo. Grade: B+ (Unrated.)
