Carmen
Opera

Repertoire classic as an energetic revue

In her operatic debut, Argentinian choreographer Constanza Macras liberates the famous title heroine from frills and castanets and presents her as a glamorous rebel. A circus-like dance revue spectacle full of pop references unfolds over the abysmal story of a jealous murder.

Constanza Macras brings pop culture onto the stage: sexy costumes, erotic dances, slow-motion boxing matches. It is a constant citation of films, images and figures.

bz Basel

It was to be expected that a politically minded artist like Macras would not be satisfied with the usual cliché of the femme fatale.

Opernwelt

I work a lot with quotations. I use dance as a function, as a language. I use music and text, (Constanza Macras) said of her integrated approach to dance and to theatre.

New York Times

The fact that Carmen remains so palpable is also due to the leading actress Rachel Wilson. She is a force to be reckoned with, both as a singer and as a performer.

SRF 2 Kultur

Constanza Macras brings pop culture to the stage: sexy costumes, erotic dances, slow-motion boxing matches. It is a constant citation of films, images and characters.

bz Basel

Rachel Wilson sings and performs a ravishing Carmen with verve, self-confident, cheekily wild and decked out (costumes: Slavna Martinovic). "Love is a rebellious bird", sing the women in the chorus with pathos. The antagonist Micaela, who wants to marry José at his mother's request, is no saint, but also a strong woman with a strong voice (Sarah Brady).

Tanznetz

No seduction, no exoticism, no "machismo" (...).

Basler Zeitung

And the Basel Symphony Orchestra follows [Maxime Pascal] and his naturalistic reading with a pithy, yet Francophone tone, expressive articulation and great emphasis on rhythm. The finale has rarely been performed without compromise and illusion.

Badische Zeitung

‹Carmen› is more than an opera. It is a wake-up call to put an end to the degradation and discrimination of women worldwide.

Südkurier

The musical director was Maxime Pascal, who conducted the Basel Symphony Orchestra to an intimate, yet dynamic and musically perfect interpretation.

Der Opernfreund

The mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson makes a strong entrance with her solidly supported, almost somewhat masculine voice. Her intensity never wanes throughout the performance and she manages to make castanets audible even where there are none.

Onlinereports

La mezzo américaine Rachael Wilson chante le role-titre avec une générosité inépuisable, sur toute la tessiture.

Opéra Magazine