Carmen in Wiener Staatsoper 30.6.2003 again with Julian Gavin and
Agnes Baltsa. New Micaela = Roxana Briban (first time in Vienna State Opera). A really another Carmen, of course it is still the same Zeffirelli production, but a lot of small and not so small changes in the interpretation. A much better performance, but a cooler audience I think, but totally extatic in the end. This Micaela is really a young girl from the country 16/17 year old as the libretto states, or at least in the full dialogue
version, but this is still a minimal dialogue version most of the
opera. She is very young and innocent, wonderful voice and acting of
Roxana Briban. I have found out what is wrong with Julian Gavin and
his singing, I think it is the dynamics, his voice often looses his
strength, his French pronunciation is a bit better today. Agnes
Baltsa is the most fiery Carmen. This time she do get an applause
after the 3 act aria, even though she is awfully quick in saying "eh
bien" after the aria, usually we have no time to applaud the opera
just go on quickly. I wish I really could describe this Carmen,
especially all the the changes in not only interpretation, where
Carmen is on stage, but also some changes in the dialogue. And it is
the last opera performance in Wiener Staatsoper for the season
2002/2003. I got the new program in my hands. And is a wonderful
end of the season, and also the last opera in this travel.
I waited too long at the stage door thinking Agnes Baltsa would
appear. And then I walked quickly the Kärtnerstrasse up to U-Bahn
Stephanplatz and took U-Bahn to Westbahnhof, my luggage out of the
locker, and was just in time to see the train leave the
station building.
Montag, 30. juni 2003
