Review: Miami Lyric Opera marks 20 years with a richly dramatic “Carmen”
Miami Lyric Opera is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season, and on Saturday evening the hardy company took the stage at South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center with Georges Bizet’s Carmen.
Bizet was convinced that his opera was a failure after the critical reception at its premiere in March of 1875. Carmen’s libretto may have been too realistic in its depiction of folk life in Seville, perhaps too provocative in its musical exoticism, or maybe too harsh in its refusal to reward virtue at the end.
What the libretto and music provide though, is a tangible tale of a strong, albeit at times manipulative woman whose charms madden the men in her life. To take the deepest fall and ultimately take her life as well, is corporal Don José whose blinding love for Carmen can’t allow her to be with anyone else.
Full article: https://southfloridaclassicalreview.com/2022/09/miami-lyric-opera-marks-20-years-with-a-richly-dramatic-carmen/