Carmen’s Charisma

Carmen, Bizet’s classic opera, never loses its entertainment value.

Having last seen it when it was staged by Opera Santa Barbara a year ago, the latest production at the Granada, courtesy of the Music Academy of the West’s Summer Festival, was a decidedly contemporary twist on the Spanish love story conducted by Daniela Candillari, principal conductor of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Director Ken Cazan set the production in present-day Spain, with choreography by flamenco star Manuel Gutierrez and contributions from MAW’s Sing! children’s chorus.

Mezzo-soprano Maggie Reneé was delightful as the principal character, with tenor Xuyue Qing as Don José, the hapless soldier, and baritone Paul Jang as toreador Escamillo, the handsome love rival.

We were all clearly in the right aria!