Carmen in 3D

Georges Bizet Carmen opera to libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Revival direction 2010 at the Royal Opera House by Duncan Macfarland of the 2006 Francesca Zambello production. Stars Christine Rice, Bryan Hymel, Aris Argiris, Maija Kovalevska, Nicolas Courjal, Dawid Kimberg, Elena Xanthoudakis, Paula Murrihy, Adrian Clarke, Harry Nicoll, Caroline Lena Olsson, and Anthony de Baeck. Constantinos Carydis conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Co-Concert Master Sergey Levitin), the Royal Opera Chorus (Chorus Director Renato Balsadonna), and the Children of Trinity Boys Choir and Tiffin Girls' Choir (Choirmasters David Swinson and Simon Ferris). Designs by Tanya McCallin; lighting by Paule Constable; choreography by Arthur Pita; revival fight direction by Natalie Dakin of the 2006 fight scenes by Mike Loades; film direction by Julian Napier. Released in 2011, 3D disc has 5.1 Dolby Digital sound.   Grade: Help!

This 3D Carmen is a revival of the same production that the Royal Opera House released on the Decca label in 2008. It even has some of the same minor cast members as the Decca disc. So we should be able to get a fair idea whether 3D is worth the trouble for an opera by comparing the 2008 2D show to the 2011 3D version.

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