Carmen (a ballet with choreography by Mats Ek recorded in 1994)

With the hot glow of her cigar, the piercing intensity of her gaze, and her unabashed sexuality, Carmen radiates defiance. She's a woman who knows what she wants and is ruthless in pursuing it. She takes and discards lovers as she pleases.

Mats Ek's International Emmy Award-winning version of the fiery tale of passion and murderous jealousy is an exciting, suspenseful mix of bravura dancing and inventive, powerful storytelling.

Set to Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, the Russian composer's arrangement of Bizet's perenially popular opera music, this stylish production features award-winning dancer Ana Laguna as a mesmerizing and irresistible Carmen, with Yvan Auzely and Marc Hwang as her rival lovers: macho bullfighter Escamillo and romantic young soldier Jose.

"Ek leaves interpretation to the watcher; he reduces it to a devastating 50 minutes, disregards chronology and conflates Jose's mother, intended bride Micaela and Death into a great role for Pompea Santoro. Anna Laguna, with her long cigars, is never going to stay for long with the gentle, expressive Marc Hwang, and Yvan Auzely is an irresistible competitor for her fickle, uncontrollable desires."
- Seen&Heard OperaReview