the Don Jose of Michael Hendrick moved steadily up to a galvanizing final confrontation.

The Carmen of DuPage Opera Theatre (Jun.-Jul.), a small regional company performing in suburban Chicago, was a pleasant surprise. Alberta native Kirk Muspratt drew a lively performance from his well-picked orchestra of 40. Sets borrowed from upstate New York’s Tri-Cities Opera were decent, as was the young chorus.

Muspratt’s decision to excise entire numbers (the children’s chorus, for example) was more acceptable than opting for a snip-snip here and a snip-snip there. He also presented Bizet’s work in its opera-comique form, rarely done in the U.S., and it came off admirably.

 After initial tentativeness, the Carmen of Lisa LaFleur and Don Jose of Michael Hendrick moved steadily up to a galvanizing final confrontation. The attractive LaFleur was hampered a bit by the direction of Michael LaTour, who had her constantly showing off her legs.

Otherwise, LaTour’s staging was unobjectionable, with good work from the four smugglers. Patricia Rhiew’s Micaela was quite finely sung. Joseph Smith looked the part of Escamillo. Sara Stewart’s choreography for herself and two other dancers blended into the show effectively.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-152872803.html

by Richard Covello

Opera Canada