Carmen

Carmen in flamenco dance version, based on the novella Carmen by Prosper Mérimée. (This novella was also the inspiration for the Carmen opera. But this dance program is not a flamenco version of the opera.) Performed 2011 at the Teatro Real. Script, choreography, and lighting by Antonio Gades and Carlos Saura.  Stars Vanesa Vento, Ángel Gil, Joaquín Mulero, and Jairo Rodríguez. Additional  women dancers are Conchi Maya, Cristina Carnero, Luisa Serrano, Mª José López, Maite Chico, María Nadal, Merche Recio, Virginia Guiñales, and Yolanda Rodriguez. Additional men dancers are Alberto Ferrero, Ángel Bleda, Antonio Mulero, David Martín, Elías Morales, Miguel Lara, Miguel Vallés, and Pepe Vento. The woman flamenco singer is Ángela Núñez "La Bronce"; flamenco men singers are Alfredo Tejado, Enrique Pantoja, Gabriel Cortés, and Joni Cortés. Guitarists are Antonio Solera and Camarón de Pitita. Music by Antonio Gades, Antonio Solera, Ricardo Freire González, Georges Bizet (Carmen), Manuel Penella (El Gato Montés), José Ortega Heredia, and Federico García Lorca (Verde que te quiero verde). Stage setting by Antonio Saura. Released 2012, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: C+

The fairly detailed and poignant story of the Carmen opera may have poisoned my mind against any attempt to cover the same ground in dance. For this or some other reason, I found this flamenco Carmen, while obviously well-danced, to be tedious and slow. So I gave it the unexciting grade grade of "C." But I also gave it the "+," which means that if you are a special fan of flamenco, you will probably like this title.  I would welcome a more favorable review, especially from someone who knows flamenco well.  So please write us a comment about this title that we can post here as a better mini-review.