Monday 15 October 2018

The Royal Opera presents the first revival of Bizet’s

©2018 ROH. Photographed by Bill Cooper

Barrie Kosky's all-singing all-dancing production of Bizet’s much-loved opera Carmen returns to for its first revival this autumn, following the production’s UK premiere in February 2018. The production was first seen at in 2016.

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The young soldier Don José intends to marry Micaëla, a girl from his home village. But when he meets the sensual and fiercely independent Carmen, he sacrifices everything to be with her. Carmen quickly grows bored of Don José and his possessiveness. When she turns her attentions to the dashing toreador Escamillo, Don José's jealousy erupts into violence.

Award-winning Australian director Barrie Kosky provides a refreshing staging of this well-known opera. The production draws upon musical theatre and features distinctively-staged numbers, energetic dancing and arresting theatrical visuals, all designed to offer a new perspective on this enduringly popular classic. The opera’s original dialogue/recitative is also replaced with new text (including some from the Mérimée novella on which Bizet based his opera), performed by a recorded narrator who may symbolize Carmen herself.

Kosky made his Royal Opera debut in the 2016/17 Season directing Shostakovich's . He is currently Intendant and Artistic Director of Komische Oper Berlin, a position he has held since 2012.

The production features set and costume designs by Katrin Lea Tag, lighting design by Joachim Klein and choreography by Otto Pichler It features the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and Royal Opera Chorus conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson, who makes her Royal Opera debut. Mezzo-soprano Ksenia Dudnikova and tenor Brian Jagde sing the roles of Carmen and Don José, both for the first time at Covent Garden. Other cast members include Eleonora Buratto in her Royal Opera debut as Micaëla and Alexander Vinogradov as Escamillo.

Carmen opens at the Royal Opera House on 30 November 2018, with subsequent performances on 4, 8, 11, 14, 19 and 22 December 2018. The Royal Opera presents a Schools’ Matinee performance of Carmen on 27 November 2018, generously supported by Dame Gail Ronson.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further information or interview requests please contact Jolene Dyke

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2. For images or press ticket requests please contact Hannah Last

CARMEN

30 November, 4, 8, 11, 14, 22 December 2018 at 7pm 19 December 2018 at 12 noon

Production first seen at Oper Frankfurt in 2016 Schools’ Matinee generously supported by Dame Gail Ronson.

Sung in French with English surtitles

Tickets available from the Royal Opera House website and box office (+44 (0)20 7304 4000)

Credits

Music Georges Bizet Libretto Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy Director Barrie Kosky Designer Katrin Lea Tag Lighting designer Joachim Klein Choreographer Otto Pichler Dramaturg Zsolt Horpácsy

Performers

Conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson* Carmen Ksenia Dudnikova Don José Brian Jagde Escamillo Alexander Vinogradov Micaëla Eleonora Buratto* Zuniga Jean Teitgen Frasquita Yaritza Véliz *† Mercédès Aigul Akhmetshina†

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Dancaïro Germán E. Alcántara*† Moralès Dominic Sedgwick† Le Remendado François Piolino

Royal Opera Chorus Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

*Royal Opera debut †Jette Parker Young Artist

About The Royal Opera The Royal Opera, under the artistic direction of Antonio Pappano, Music Director, and Oliver Mears, Director of Opera, is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in the iconic Covent Garden theatre, 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.

About the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House’s aim is for many more people to enjoy and engage in exceptional ballet and opera. As The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, we bring together the world’s most extraordinary ballet and opera artists in more than 500 performances every year: live events that thrill, move and excite, and that transport people to other worlds though music, dance and theatre.

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