Carmen

Opera’s great, independent, sensual woman, the gypsy CARMEN. Her friends and enemies from a cigarette factory. Her lovers, high and low. A naive corporal and the good girl from home. A handsome bullfighter. Smugglers. Jealousy, and a fatal struggle. From the seductive “Habanera” to the triumphant “Toreador Song”, Carmen, the most popular French opera, has some of the most alluring arias ever. Bizet’s Carmen sings out with irresistible, unforgettable musical panache.

Widely recognised as one of the most exciting young voices on the operatic stage, Irish mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan, lauded for her “bewitchingly beautiful, dark vibrant voice” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) sings the title role. Opposite her, Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan, hailed by The New York Times for his “warm, rounded tone with a quality reminiscent of a young Plácido Domingo” sings Don José. Australian soprano Stacey Alleaume praised by The Telegraph for her “powerful, limber and expressive voice” is Micaëla, and swaggering toreador Escamillo is sung by Serbian baritone David Bizic who The New Criterion credits with “a beautiful instrument, one that gleams.”