Members and friends gathered at the stunning Royal Opera and Ballet in Covent Garden in eager anticipation of the evening’s opera performance of Bizet’s Carmen.

Whilst we may have been left wishing for more ‘Spain’, the staging, music and opera itself were expectedly stunning and appreciated by a mixed group of opera aficionados and those experiencing their first opera.

The story followed the traditional tale of a free-spirited Carmen and her interaction with the men around her and living without regret, until she meets police man Don José and toreador Escamillo. After serving time in prison Don José returns to Carmen but feels her interest waning and is wracked with jealously. The passion, rage and conflict become build, and a tarot reading convinces Carmen that death is inevitable.

At times the performance was an uncomfortable watch, whilst admiring Carmen’s commitment to living her life her way, her strong independence felt defensive and protective rather than freeing. Brooding Don José had the weight of his mother’s disapproval circling him at every turn, and he seemed much better suited romantically to his mother’s messenger Michaela, if only he could see that! Escamillo brought ‘showbiz’ to the wild west, and the whole performance was heavily influenced by the ‘villager’s’ opinions, the children throughout drawing the comparison between a village of opinions and playground gossip and influence.  

The Torreador Song and Habenero were predictably brilliant, with faultless performances all round. The standout stars were the Royal Opera House orchestra, with the conductor rightly receiving rapturous applause as the curtain lowered. Bravo!