Step into a world of fiery passion, gripping drama, and unforgettable music with this inventive production of Carmen brought by the Opernhaus Zürich and the Parisian company Opéra Comique. With its heart-stirring arias, vibrant Spanish rhythms and timeless themes, Bizet’s masterpiece remains as powerful and relevant today as when it first premiered.
Directed by award-wining Andreas Homoki, this production places the drama in a stark, metatheatrical setting. A replica of the Opéra Comique stage becomes the backdrop for a journey through time, with each act set in a different era: from Belle Époque Paris to World War II and finally to the present day. This production not only captures the raw emotion and dramatic intensity of Carmen like never before, but also reinterprets the themes of fate and humanity from a subtler yet bolder perspective.
Whether you are a seasoned opera lover or new to the art form, this Carmen promises to captivate, provoke, and linger in the soul long after the final curtain falls. Join us for an extraordinary evening of music, drama and passion. Carmen awaits.
Production of the Opéra Comique and Opernhaus Zürich
Director: Andreas Homoki
Conductor: Eivind Gullberg Jensen
Set Design: Paul Zoller
Costume Design: Gideon Davey
Lighting Design: Franck Evin
Macao Orchestra
Chorus: China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Macao Youth Choir
Characters and Cast
Carmen: Aude Extrémo, Mezzo-soprano
Don José: Matthew White, Tenor
Escamillo: Dmitry Cheblykov, Bass-baritone
Micaëla: Maria Kokareva, Soprano
Zuniga:Jean Teitgen, Bass
Le Dancaïre: Loïc Félix, Tenor
Le Remendado: François Piolino, Tenor
Frasquita: Elisabeth Boudreault, Soprano
Moralès: Clarence Frazer, Baritone
Mercédès: Hanna Hipp, Mezzo-soprano
Approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes, including one interval
Performed in French, with surtitles in Chinese and English
Suitable for audience aged 13 or above. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted
SJM and the Macao International Music Festival Co-present Carmen – Opera in Four Acts by Georges Bizet