Spectacular Opera. Ana Maria Martinez delivers a stunning performance. Very enjoyable, Orchestra excellent and dancing dazzling

It hardly needs to be said that Carmen is one of the best-loved operas, but this performance, for anyone well-versed in opera, is lackluster. The direction is wooden; the performers too often stand still while they sing to the audience. The emphasis here seems to have been on playing it safe rather than bringing anything new or daring to the opera. In the title role, Ana Maria Martinez, who I thought was superb in Madame Butterfly in 2016, hit all the right notes and performed adequately, but Carmencita is a role she could have truly sunk her teeth into. Unfortunately, this year's Carmencita is not especially enticing. Conductor James Conlan's work is more than merely adequate, and the superb L.A. Opera Orchestra performs wonderfully. But the performance as a whole is pedestrian. The one standout was a stunning dance number at, I believe, the start of Act III. An additional note: if you attend, leave extra time because Grand Ave is closed between 1st and 2nd streets.

One of the weakest Carmens I've ever seen. Felt like a Junior High performance with everyone dutifully stomping on each other's lines and singing to the crowd. No acting, no timing. Carmen looked tired and leaden, rather than like a manipulative femme fatale. Completely lacking in chemistry.