Carmen, Ellen Kent & Opera International, Pavilion, Bournemouth

THE Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus has a reputation that goes before it, which is probably why the Pavilion was filled almost to capacity for the first of this week's two visits - the company is back on Thursday with Nabucco.

And never can Seville have looked so appealing than in this outstanding production, with its sun-kissed houses, orange trees, fountain and even a thoroughly-at-home donkey to steal the scene.

So Heather Shipp's sultry, smouldering and, unusually, bitchy Carmen stood out in contrast, as it did also to Irena Vinogradova's innocent, child-like Micaela.

The reasons for their attraction to Don Jose (Nicolae Busuioc) seemed clear, although Petru Racovita's Escamillo seem- ed not quite to fit the pin-up toreador mould and was a little lacking in passion.

Overall, Ellen Kent's French-sung production marked by superb singing and acting skills, simply oozed passion.