Carmen
Spanish heat and gypsy passion are brought to the stage in Francesca Zambello’s vivid production of Bizet's opera.
Photos
When to see it
Booking for 16 December 2013 - 9 January 2014 opens
- Booking opens 22 October 2013 at 10.00am for General Public.
- Booking opens 25 September 2013 at 10.00am for Friends of Covent Garden.
- Booking opens 12 September 2013 at 10.00am for Supporting Friends.
- Booking opens 11 September 2013 at 10.00am for Premium 1 Friends.
- Booking opens 10 September 2013 at 10.00am for Premium 2 Friends.
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Garanca
- Alagna
- Priante
- Cangemi
- Riches
- Mihai
- Courjal
- Karyazina
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Garanca
- Alagna
- Priante
- Cangemi
- Riches
- Mihai
- Courjal
- Karyazina
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Rice
- Lee
- Smoriginas
- Fox
- de Souza
- Hovhannisyan
- Courjal
- Kelly
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Garanca
- Alagna
- Priante
- Cangemi
- Riches
- Mihai
- Courjal
- Karyazina
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Rice
- Lee
- Smoriginas
- Fox
- de Souza
- Hovhannisyan
- Courjal
- Kelly
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Rice
- Lee
- Smoriginas
- Fox
- de Souza
- Hovhannisyan
- Courjal
- Kelly
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Garanca
- Alagna
- Priante
- Cangemi
- Riches
- Mihai
- Courjal
- Karyazina
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Rice
- Lee
- Smoriginas
- Fox
- de Souza
- Hovhannisyan
- Courjal
- Kelly
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Garanca
- Alagna
- Priante
- Cangemi
- Riches
- Mihai
- Courjal
- Karyazina
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
- Oren
- Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
- Garanca
- Alagna
- Priante
- Cangemi
- Riches
- Mihai
- Courjal
- Karyazina
- Clarke
- Patterson
- Royal Opera Chorus
Introduction
Don José is a young soldier in the army in Seville. He intends to marry Micaëla, a girl from his home village, but when he meets the sensual and high-spirited Carmen, his head is soon turned…
Background
Carmen was based on a popular novella of the same name by Prosper Mérimée, which enticed French readers with exotic tales of Spain. Its heady combination of passion, sensuality and violence initially proved too much for the stage and Georges Bizet’s opera was a critical failure on its premiere in 1875. Bizet died shortly after, never learning of the spectacular success Carmen would achieve – it has been staged over 500 times at Covent Garden alone.
Carmen contains many well-loved numbers, such as Carmen’s seductive Habanera and Escamillo’s rousing Toreador’s song, in which he celebrates the thrill of the bullfight. Richly coloured designs capture the sultry heat of the Spanish sun, while ranks of soldiers, crowds of peasants, gypsies and bullfighters bring 19th-century Seville alive. This combination of memorable music, vivid setting and dramatic story have made Carmen one of the most popular operas in the world.
Thanks to
Generous philanthropic support from
Dr and Mrs Michael West, Yvonne and Bjarne Rieber and the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund
Co-production with
The Norwegian National Opera and Opera Australia
How to support the Royal Opera House
Running time
About 3 hours 10 minutes | Including one interval
Language
Sung in French with English surtitles
Credits
| Director | Francesca Zambello |
| Designs | Tanya McCallin |
| Lighting design | Paule Constable |
| Choreography | Arthur Pita |
| Fight director | Mike Loades |
Related links
- en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia: Carmen
- www.rohcollections.org.uk Costume, design and photographic collections – Carmen
- www.guardian.co.uk The Good Opera Guide: Bizet's Carmen
