22/6/2025. After having recorded the children’s choir parts during the pandemic, I finally managed to see the famous opera by Bizet on stage, in a modern, excellent production.
Though i already knew i loved carmen thanks to video versions I’d watched and having participated in recording the children’s choir sections with my choir, I’d never actually seen it live before this june, so i was very excited to see it at La Monnaie.
It definitely did not disappoint. i think i can genuinely say that Carmen at La Monnaie with Stephanie Doustrac in the lead role is among at least the top three operas I’ve ever been to (out of upwards of 60). The staging twisted the story into the setting of a couples therapy session, and while I was hesitant about it at first, the slight edits they made to the script and the actors’ performances reallly brought it all together.
Doustrac was overwhelmingly fantastic in the role. from the moment she stepped on stage, her presence demanded respect and admiration. Her voice is astounding and her manner – whether natural or for the role – is perfect for Carmen as a character. It was also clear that she and Attilo Glaser had chemistry on stage because their interactions were a beautiful mix of sensual and humorous and then transitioned into a very natural animosity.
What the critics said
- Opéra sur Divan, Carmen Psychanalyse à La Monnaie – Olyrix.com
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