Bizet's Carmen is one of the operas featured in this year's Wexford Festival Opera Scenes. Even though this masterpiece is easier to truncate in this way than many operas, the success of the production is a credit to everyone involved, including director Alessandra Panzavolta and music director Brian MacKay. Tea Demurishvili plays a brassy, sexy Carmen. Her deliberately strong tone does not always do justice to the role's vocal dexterity, but during Saturday afternoon's performance at White's Hotel her manner was compelling. This production is notable for its simple staging and for the vocal consistency of the major and minor characters. Julian Tovey is a suitably proud Escamillo and Katia Trebeleva - one of the most natural actors - is touching as Micaela. However, the highlight is the Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja as Don Jose. For someone just 20 years old his vocal power, lyric quality, musical intelligence and stage presence are extraordinary. Watch out for him.