Title: The star 'Jose'
Product review: This MET production in 1987 is in many ways illustrious: two top opera stars in the lead roles, big staging and festive choruses plus good dancers.Agnes Baltsa shined vocally here, but really, Carmen is a bit of a stretch for her in 1987 visually.I have heard Samuel Ramey elsewhere, and must say that his Escamillo is somewhat mediocre in this production. His two big arias lacked charisma, especially when you have Jose Carreras as Don Jose. It would be difficult to convince the audience that this toreador is the man that Carmen would prefer over Don Jose!Jose Carreras is in his absolute prime here - big arias sweetly sung, physically convincing, ardent in acting (he is not consistently passionate elsewhere). Most of all, he has the right characterisation for this weak-minded Don Jose. Rather than ranking him behind Domingo in this role, I would rather opt Carreras as the best Don Jose of his era.
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