Press and audience reactions: ‘A stunning adaptation’

On Thursday, September 4, it finally happened: the long-awaited premiere of La Révolution de Carmen. And what an evening it was! Extra festive, too, as all six performances are now completely sold out.

A New Standard

We thoroughly enjoyed this special premiere, as well as the heartwarming audience reactions. One visitor said: “We’ve heard Tania as Carmen before – amazing! But this time it was truly exceptional.” The shift in time and setting was also well received: “Carmen is often such a hit show with overfamiliar melodies, which can overshadow the drama. But with the backdrop of the Paris Commune, the story became so much more exciting. I hope this becomes the new standard.”

We also received many compliments from the press. Tania Kross made a deep impression with her powerful portrayal of Carmen. Place de l’Opera even called her the evening’s biggest surprise: “She moved me with her warm voice, which seems to come straight from her soul.” Soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra also received high praise. Theaterkrant named our Michaëlle the star of the evening: “Deeply moving is her aria Je dis, que rien ne m’épouvante, in which she encourages herself to rescue José from the battlefield and guide him to his dying mother.”

A ‘Brilliant’ Set

The choir and children’s choir were enthusiastically received. Opus Klassiek wrote: “The energetically performed choral scenes, with an effectively directed children’s choir, are characteristic of a colorful staging that is especially convincing in the ensemble scenes.” According to Theaterkrant, “the joy of performing shines through,” and Place de l’Opera found it “remarkable how fresh the choirs sound.”

The music was also praised. The Ghent-based B’Rock Orchestra “produced a pleasantly warm sound from the orchestra pit” (Theaterkrant), with special appreciation for the horn players and their “beautiful, melancholic lines.” ArtsTalk Magazine also lauded the musical performance under the “inspired direction” of Hernán Schvartzman. “What conductor Hernán Schvartzman brought out in terms of color from the B’Rock Orchestra, playing on period instruments, sounded wonderful,” wrote Trouw.

The set also made a strong impression. ArtsTalk Magazine called it spectacular: “From the moment we entered the theater, we were immersed in the atmosphere of Paris during the Commune, with tricolour flags, slogans, and graffiti on the walls.” One of the sets was even described as “brilliant.”

Inventive and Playful

Of course, the fact that OPERA2DAY offers an entirely new perspective on this most famous opera also sparked plenty of discussion. Opinions spanned the full spectrum. The reviewer from Trouw longed for “a production where everything had remained the same.” ArtsTalk Magazine congratulated director and librettist Serge van Veggel on the “stunning adaptation,” executed “without a single misstep.” Theaterkrant openly praised the initiative: “With this production, OPERA2DAY once again proves that they can breathe new life into the standard repertoire in an inventive and playful way.”

The next performances will take place on September 10, 11, 13, and 14.