Jossie Perez puts wow factor into Portland Opera's Carmen

Jossie Perez in the title role as the spicy, sexy, cigarette-factory girl in Portland Opera's Carmen delivers an over-the-top performance that you should see if you haven't already purchased your tickets. Perez looks the part, she acts the part, and she sings it all superbly, and she adds so much sexual tension to the story that the air conditioning at Keller Auditorium last night was running at full blast. Supported by a terrific cast of principals, including Richard Zeller, Maureen O'Flynn, Richard Troxell, ad Mark S. Doss, this season opener is very strong and convincing.

I'm writing a review of the production for Opera, the London-based magazine, so I won't say much more than to say that you won't see a better performance of Carmen than Perez's.