Performance took place on Thursday, October 26th, 2000.

Zeffirelli's Carmen was a disappointment after Turandot. It is not a bad production, but it is only average. The last act was particularly disappointing where the arena was barely seen and the staged looked small. A lot of people on the stage again (a Zeffirelli's trademark) but this time hiding the singers from view. Lots of horses, for a moment I thought chickens and pigs would come too !

Now to the singing. Olga Borodina was a good Carmen. Her voice is sultry, really dark as a Mezzo should and with some very good high notes (she took the high note in the closing of the Seguidilha). Her problem lies in the French which she pronounces well enough but she does not do a lot with the words (I heard Berganza on the role and she really excels here). But at least her Carmen is not a vamp !

Roberto Alagna was very good. It was also the first time I heard him live. His voice is very distinctive and beautiful. He sang piano at the end of the duet with Micaela (but lacked a true pianissimo there as Domingo did when I saw him on the same role) and in the Flower aria, he displayed a lot of breath control but unfortunately sang the B at the end forte instead of piano. He is not a good actor though, specially if you have seen Domingo in the role, but he was convincing in the third Act when telling Carmen he'll be back. A special mention should be made to the fact that he is French and it shows. His diction and the sound are very true to French singing and nobody today can equal him on this aspect. If he stays away from heavier roles, he could well be one of the leading tenors in years to come. The problem tackling heavier roles is that his voice is not sufficiently large nor dramatic (when he tries to flee from Carmen on Act 2 for example he sounded underpowered).

René Pappe was excellent again. Used his physique to compose the character and sang very well. What a find !

Norah Amsellem was also very good and sang her heart out in the aria.

Bertrand de Billy conducted well enough but sometimes the singers got lost with his tempo. Alagna incidentally missed an entry in the second Act (when José tells Carmen "attends un peux").