Stealing the show of this "Carmen" production is Anna Netrebko as
Micaela, who gives the role a strikingly authentic touch. The lead role is
sung and acted with a panther-like grace by Bulgarian mezzo Nadia
Krasteva. She and her equally dazzling fellow leads Massimo Giordano as
Don José and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo as Escamillo infuse this revival of
Franco Zeffirelli's 1978 production with drama and irrepressible life.
Imparting his own personal stamp on the music is the young Latvian
conductor Andris Nelsons, who leads the Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper
with contagious passion and fresh, brisk tempi.