Royal Opera

Carmen

In Cinemas 1, 2 & 5 Jun 2024
Conductor
Antonello Manacorda
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Cast
Aigul Akhmetshina (Carmen), Piotr Beczała (Don José), Kostas Smoriginas (Escamillo), Olga Kulchynska (Micaëla), Blaise Malaba (Zuniga), Sarah Dufresne (Frasquita), Grisha Martirosyan (Moralès), Gabrielé Kupšytė (Mercédés), Pierre Doyen (Dancaïro)
Composer
Georges Bizet
Director
Damiano Michieletto
Set Design
Paolo Fantin
Duration
Approx.3h45 including an interval
Sung in French, with English subtitles
Captured live from Covent Garden, London 1 May 2024
Official Event Listing
  • A performance which will be spoken about for years to come. Akhmetshina contemptuously prowls the stage like a panther, and her mesmerising sound has a burnished perfection.
    Michael Church, iNEWS
    Potent and rich in drama. Akhmetshina is electrifying and Beczala outstanding in this simmering, naturalistic staging.
    Clive Paget, THE GUARDIAN
    Brilliant. The drama simmers and sizzles. It wouldn’t surprise if this production is still being revived decades into the future.
    David Karlin, BACHTRACK
    Aigul Akhmetshina commands the stage. The confidence of Michieletto's vision is exhilarating and we surely have the singer who will define the role over the next decade and beyond.
    Gary Naylor, BROADWAY WORLD

Opera in four acts (1875)

New Production! Passions simmer and tensions fray in Olivier award-winning director Damiano Michieletto's powerful new staging of Bizet’s scorching, ever-popular opera, a co-production with Teatro Real and La Scala.

The free-spirited Carmen (brilliant mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina) declares that any man she loves should beware. However, even she is unprepared for what will happen when she decides to seduce Don José (Piotr Beczala), who is willing to risk it all for her – at whatever cost.

Evoking all the lust, passion and heat of Bizet's score, which features Carmen’s sultry ‘Habanera’ and the rousing ‘Toreador Song’, Antonello Manacorda conducts an exciting international cast.

Sydney patrons please note: Due to the recent closure of Palace Verona for building redevelopment, this production will screen nearby at Palace Moore Park, located in the Entertainment Quarter precinct in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Advance tickets now on sale.

Royal Opera

The Royal Opera is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in London’s iconic Royal Opera House (1858) in Covent Garden, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today’s leading opera composers, such as Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Thomas Adès.

See more productions from: Royal Ballet and Opera