Word: carmens
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...opera that inspired cultural apocalypses comes to Harvard. The Dunster House Opera Society's Carmen made an ambitious attempt to portray all of the historic and romantic melodrama of Bizet's sole masterpiece, but it fell just short of the mark. Despite memorable aria performances and excellent lighting, the passion so requisite to a good production was not there...
Lara Freidenfelds' Carmen was superb, considering the lack of dramatic support she got from the rest of her cast. Her voice was explosive throughout the first act, and she came through the famous "Habenera" with a spark of brilliance. Despite the weakness and discordance of the orchestra, she held the melody and retained the inflexions of the song. Unfortunately, her flair for the dramatic deteriorated slowly throughout the play. Teasing, seductive and convincing in the first act, her gestures and movement became less spirited and aimless by the final scene. Freidenfelds made an alluring and exciting Carmen...
Aaron Arzu left nothing to be desired in his singing the role of Don Jose. His ability to hold a melody shined through in his renditions of the Alcalan marching song and the plaintive aria to Carmen in the second act. But his positioning and gesturing were unguided, empty and often too quick and emphatic. His crescendos were sudden where they should have been gradual, harsh when they should have caressed the ear. He sang his part with technical aplomb but not with the heartfelt inspiration of a great portrayal...
...good to see undergraduates taking a stab at the complex and stimulating world of opera. Of course, such large productions are difficult to produce, but student opera can be done effectively and creatively. Dunster House's Carmen gets an "A" for effort but a "C" for mediocrity...
...convoluted plot centers on Pablo (Eusebio Poncela), a filmmaker whose fashionable, charmingly tasteless movies resemble Almodovar's. Pablo lives with his brother-cum-sister Tina (Carmen Maura) a religious transsexual actress. Pablo and Tina both want boyfriends...