Scottish Opera's new production of Carmen has been dazzling audiences across the country, and the performances from Rayfield Allied's artists - conductor Dane Lam, mezzo-soprano Justina Gringytė (Carmen), and baritones Phillip Rhodes (Escamillo) and Dan Shelvey (Moralès) - have been acclaimed by audiences and critics. We are happy to share a selection with you below:
Dane Lam
"Under the baton of conductor Dane Lam, the orchestra plays Bizet’s remarkable score with a delicate, sensitive freshness and, when required, an invigorating heft."
Mark Brown, The Telegraph
"Australian-Chinese conductor Dane Lam leads Scottish Opera’s orchestra with vim and swagger, and the chorus is on top form throughout."
David Lee, The Guardian
"The greatest consistency comes from the orchestra, magnificently emotive and alert under conductor Dane Lam."
Ken Walton, The Scotsman
The musical language of the show is... in safe[r] hands, conductor Dane Lam – who takes up the enviable position of Music Director of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra this summer – revelling in all the details of Bizet’s glorious orchestration and the orchestra delivering in spades, both soloists and ensemble.
Keith Bruce, The Herald Scotland
"In the pit, Australian Dane Lam conjured up Bizet’s score with energy and vigour, the Scottish Opera Orchestra nimbly responding with lively strings, bright woodwinds and splendid brass. Tune after tune tumbled out, Lam keeping his musicians and singers well in step, tempering the excitement with lyrical delights, some lovely flute solos and nifty castanets."
David Smythe, Bachtrack
"The ultimate, and most consistent, champions of this Carmen are the Scottish Opera Orchestra, whose performance on opening night under Australian conductor Dane Lam was exemplary, capturing Bizet’s red hot vibrancy, electrifying energy and melting expressiveness to the absolute full, proving that the beating heart of any opera emanates from the notes on the page."
Ken Walton, Vox Carnyx
Justina Gringytė
"...there was nevertheless plenty of passion as Lithuanian Justina Gringytė’s smouldering wild-child Carmen led the workers push to end oppression, mercilessly used José to escape and became a smuggler’s moll, taking up with toreador Escamillo. Returning to Scottish Opera in the role, Gringytė’s full rich mezzo came with challenging attitude in spades."
David Smyth, Backtrack
"Justina Gringyte’s dark, smoky mezzo is a good fit for Carmen’s dangerous sexual chemistry"
Simon Thompson, The Times
"Justina Gringyte is a compelling Carmen, vocally and physically"
Keith Bruce, The Herald
"Carmen (played with fabulous sensuality, scorn and recklessness by the Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Justina Gringytė) is still the seductive driving force in the tragedy."
Mark Brown, The Telegraph
"In the title role, Justina Gringytė is a powerful and assertive woman in both actions and voice. There is never any doubt as to why her lovers fall for Gringytė’s Carmen, who gives them fair warning that they will be spurned as soon as they begin to need her."
Thon Dibdin, The Stage
Dan Shelvey
"Dan Shelvey as Moralès and Thomas D Hopkinson as Zuniga, José’s superior, soundly completed the line-up."
David Smythe, Bachtrack
"Neat performances, too, by Dan Shelvey (Moralès) and Thomas D Hopkinson (Zuniga) complete the team."
Ken Walton, Vox Carnyx
Phillip Rhodes
“Phillip Rhodes is an arresting Escamillo, with vocal bravado befitting a toreador”
David Lee, The Guardian
“Phillip Rhodes has the necessary arrogance as Escamillo to make the Toreador Song ring true.”
Thom Dibdin, The Stage****
“Phillip Rhodes was an impressive Escamillo.”
David Smythe, Bachtrack****
