‘Carmen’ seduces audiences once again at Sarasota Opera

‘Carmen’ seduces audiences once again at Sarasota Opera Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune – February 22, 2024 Watching and listening to Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” at Sarasota Opera is a bit like sitting through a collection of opera’s greatest hits, all in one production, which likely explains its enduring popularity. At just about every turn, even those with limited exposure to opera or classical music will hear something familiar within a story that draws you into the characters. This is the fourth or fifth time I’ve seen “Carmen” in Sarasota in the last 30 years and with a few exceptions it works on many levels both musically and dramatically. The character Carmen has an infallible ability to make men instantly fall for her and bend to her bidding. She is determined to prove that she can have anyone she wants and is just as prepared to drop a man at the slightest hint of boredom or rejection.