MUSIC DIRECTOR SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO DIRECTOR OF OPERA OLIVER MEARS Approximate timings Live cinema relay begins at 6.45pm; opera begins at 7pm

Acts I and II 110 minutes Interval Act III 65 minutes

The performance will end at approximately 10.30pm

Tweet your thoughts about tonight’s performance before it starts, during the interval or afterwards with #ROHcarmen OPÉRA COMIQUE IN THREE ACTS

MUSIC GEORGES BIZET AFTER THE CRITICAL EDITION BY MICHAEL ROT ADAPTED BY CONSTANTINOS CARYDIS (FOR FRANKFURT OPERA, 2016) LIBRETTO HENRI MEILHAC AND LUDOVIC HALÉVY AFTER PROSPER MÉRIMÉE’S 1845 NOVELLA CARMEN SPOKEN TEXT AFTER MEILHAC, HALÉVY AND MÉRIMÉE, EDITED BY BARRIE KOSKY

PUBLISHED BY VERLAGSGRUPPE HERMANN BY ARRANGEMENT WITH SCHOTT MUSIC LTD. FREE DIGITAL PROGRAMME CONDUCTOR JAKUB HRŮŠA Digital Programmes bring together a range of specially selected films, articles, pictures and features to bring you closer to the DIRECTOR BARRIE KOSKY production. Use promo code FREECARMEN to claim yours (RRP £2.99). DESIGNER KATRIN LEA TAG roh.org.uk/publications LIGHTING DESIGNER JOACHIM KLEIN CHOREOGRAPHER OTTO PICHLER DRAMATURG ZSOLT HORPÁCSY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ALAN BARNES

ROYAL OPERA CHORUS CHORUS DIRECTOR WILLIAM SPAULDING 2017/18 LIVE CINEMA SEASON ORCHESTRA OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE BERNSTEIN CENTENARY TUESDAY 27 MARCH 2018 CO-CONCERT MASTER SERGEY LEVITIN WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL 2018 PRODUCTION FIRST SEEN AT FRANKFURT OPERA, 2016 MANON THURSDAY 3 MAY 2018 SWAN LAKE TUESDAY 12 JUNE 2018 DIRECTED FOR THE SCREEN BY PATI MARR

roh.org.uk/cinema LIVE FROM THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE TUESDAY 6 MARCH 2018, 6.45PM Synopsis

Act I follow him. José blocks her way. While the bullfight is going on, José begs Carmen, for Seville the last time, to follow him and start a new life. She refuses, throwing the ring he gave The brigadier Moralès and his soldiers look on as men pester a young woman, Micaëla, her to the ground. José stabs Carmen. who is looking for Don José, a corporal. She runs off, telling the soldiers that she will come back as soon as José is back on duty. Synopsis by Zsolt Horpácsy (originally printed by Frankfurt Opera in 2016). The women who work at the cigarette factory are taking a break, surrounded by English translation by Lucy Jonas. soldiers. Carmen has the most admirers. Only one man, José, takes no notice of her until she throws him a flower. José sees Micaëla again. An orphan raised by José’s mother, she gives him a letter, money, and, best of all, a kiss from his mother, which makes him Cast forget Carmen for a moment. Carmen is arrested for injuring one of her colleagues in the factory with a knife. Lieutenant Zuniga orders José to take her to prison. She seduces José with a song and MORALÈS GYULA NAGY promises of love. He helps her escape and is arrested. MICAËLA KRISTINA MKHITARYAN

Act II Lillas Pastia’s tavern DON JOSÉ FRANCESCO MELI

Carmen and her friends Mercédès and Frasquita work with the smugglers Dancaïro and Remendado. Escamillo, the winner of the bullfight in Granada, appears with his friends. ZUNIGA DAVID SOAR He is strongly attracted to Carmen. But she is waiting for José, who is due to be released from prison that day, the reason why she refuses to take part in the next smuggling CARMEN ANNA GORYACHOVA operation. José arrives at last. While Carmen dances for him, the tattoo is heard. The soldier, FRASQUITA JACQUELYN STUCKER conscious of his duty, tells Carmen he must go. She is furious with him, and doubts his love. Lieutenant Zuniga suddenly appears. José, driven by jealousy, attacks his superior. MERCÉDÈS AIGUL AKHMETSHINA Zuniga is disarmed by the smugglers. There is now no turning back for José: he deserts.

ESCAMILLO KOSTAS SMORIGINAS Interval

DANCAÏRO PIERRE DOYEN Act III Scene 1: In the mountains The smugglers try and transport their wares to Seville under the cover of darkness. José REMENDADO JEAN-PAUL FOUCHÉCOURT now lives with them and Carmen, who is fed up with José’s jealousy. The cards prophesy that first Carmen and then José will die. When Escamillo, searching for Carmen, meets VOICE OF CARMEN CLAUDE DE DEMO José, the men fight a duel, during which Carmen saves Escamillo’s life. He invites her and the smugglers to the bullfight in Seville. Micaëla bravely approaches the smugglers to try and persuade José to come home. Only the news that his mother is on her deathbed can SOLDIERS, CHILDREN, CIGARETTE GIRLS, GYPSIES, SMUGGLERS move him to follow Micaëla.

Scene 2: Outside the bullring Escamillo enters the arena for the bullfight, cheered on by the people. Carmen wants to REFER TO YOUR DIGITAL PROGRAMME FOR THE FULL CAST AND LATEST INFORMATION. CASTING IS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINTING. DETAILS OF LIVE PERFORMANCES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.