This is not a performance someone new to Carmen should begin with, but those who know the opera and these singers well will be thrilled by the passionate, hairy-chested singing. Most of the time it is sung in French. Cappuccilli sings in Italian as does Corelli though most of the time he sings in French. Verrett and Corelli are terrific in their scenes together. I love how Verrett sticks to vocal line in the final scene; she even sings the final "Tiens!" (she usually did). She also gives a convincing shriek when "stabbed". I wish she wouldn't use her signature bitchy laugh so much, but there my criticism ends. She sings gloriously as does Corelli who offers one of the best Flower arias I've heard in awhile. He phrases it beautifully with some lovely diminuendi and amply conveys Jose's frustrated obsession with Carmen. Yes, he grandstands on the B-flat, but he gets the desired hysterical reaction from the audience (they applaud for over two minutes). He also interpolates a great top C at the end of the act.Cannarile-Berdini sings a lovely Micaela; her aria is a highlight of the performance (a pity her first scene with Morales is missing.) Cappuccilli makes a macho Escamillo and Clabassi a great Zuniga.The first 15 minutes are missing as well as the first five or so of Act Three. The voices are recessed, but audible (as are the many comments of the tapist and his friends). Not a Carmen for everyone, but an exciting night at the opera all the same!

Thank you very much for this new and rare performance with the great Corelli, and Verrett! She sings her role in french, and the rest of the cast sing in italian. Decent in-house sound.

Not a broadcast performance and you know it. And to top it off you want a rating