Lavish operas reflect Kent’s showy outlook
Her new touring productions are Carmen and Tosca, performed by the Chisinau National Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra, alongside international soloists, mezzo soprano, Nadia Stoianova, soprano, Maria Tsonina, baritone, Vladimir Dragos and tenor, Sorin Lupu.
Kent, an opera singer and former actress, says she is an obsessive “who has to interfere in every department.” Now aged 64, she eased up in 2009. “I closed everything down and teamed up with a promoter, who was bankrolling me. But I realised it was more trouble than it’s worth. Why make money for somebody else? I may as well take the risk myself.” She has released equity from her house and 15-acre estate in Kent to fund the operas and says the tour in the UK has broken even. No expense has been spared in creating her trademark lavish sets. For Carmen, Bizet’s sensuous opera about the downfall of soldier, Don Jose, who is seduced by the fiery Carmen, Kent was inspired by Goya paintings.
