‘Carmen’ at La Monnaie
This June, Michael Fabiano returns to a signature role, bringing his “captivating” and “tour-de-force” (Operawire) interpretation of Don José in Bizet’s Carmen to La Monnaie. It’s a role Fabiano has sung on some of the world’s greatest stages, including the Wiener Staatsoper, Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera, Opéra national du Capitole, and The Metropolitan Opera.
New York Classical Review praised that performance, saying, “Michael Fabiano is a powerful Don José… When Carmen stokes the flames of Don José’s primal urges, Fabiano explodes with passion and fury. Cracknell imagined a brutal, horrifying death for Carmen, and Fabiano delivered it with spine-chilling ferocity. Fabiano can be a forthright, assertive singer, but he expresses love and tenderness in soft, beautiful tones. He shaped long expanses of phrases that pulsed with emotion and crested on thrilling high notes, whether loud or soft.”
Fabiano joins a fantastic cast in Dmitri Cherniakov’s contemporary production, including Ève-Maud Hubeaux in the title role, Anne-Catherine Gillet as Micaëla, Edwin Crossley-Mercer as Escamillo, Louise Foor as Frasquita, Claire Peron as Mercedes, and Christian Helmer as Zuniga. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts.
The roles of Carmen and Don José are double-cast, with Fabiano singing performances on June 3, 6, 10, 14, 17, 20, and 24. Click here for tickets and information.