If you think "opera" is code for "musty," think again. "Carmen in 3D" will pin your ears back. If you enjoy opera, clear the decks this weekend. The filmed production is playing matinees at a dozen area theaters Saturday, with evening screenings at two and a holdover Sunday matinee at four. You'd be foolish to miss it.
The show has everything that made opera the people's art form back in the day: Sex, madness, murder and knockout music. Gypsy wench seduces callow Spanish soldier, dumps him for swaggering toreador, blood flows in the street outside the bullring. It's the same kind of hyperventilating passion that fuels daytime dramas – why do you think they call them soap operas?
The production, shot in London's Royal Opera House in Real-D, is breathtaking. It's like watching the performance with the world's best opera glasses. You're right there beside the performers on a bustling set with street urchins, animals, ruffians, grandees and fortunetellers. It's a trip to Seville without the airfare. You even get a couple of intriguing glimpses of backstage life. Staged by Francesca Zambello and filmed by director Julian Napier, this is a happy collaboration of 19th century theatricality and 21st century cinema. Some suspension of disbelief is required. Christine Rice is sublime as the wanton hussy and Bryan Hymel makes a soulful spurned lover. Both performers are older than their characters, since an operatic voice doesn't mature early. You want young and cute, go listen to Justin Bieber. You want passion and power, these are your guys. Rice has a wonderfully insinuating way with a lyric. When she's singing about love she looks like she's thinking about something else if you know what I mean and I think you do. Boring it ain't. The production is sung in French, with English subtitles. It runs a luxurious 170 minutes including one 20-minute intermission. (Saturday matinees at Apple Valley 15, Arbor Lakes 16, Brooklyn Center 20, Eagan 16, Eden Prairie 18, Oakdale 20, Oakdale Ultrascreen, Rosedale 14, Showplace Icon, Southdale 16 and Wynnsong 15. Evening screenings at Apple Valley 15, Oakdale 20 and Wynnsong 15. Apple Valley 15, Oakdale 20, Showplace Icon and Wynnsong 15 will also present Sunday matinees. Contact theaters for showtimes and ticketing information.)
