Carmen

Why Watch Carmen

Winner of an unprecedented 8 Tony Awards in 2003, out of a total of 13 nominations, Hairspray was one of the most successful shows to feature on Broadway. It ran for an astonishing 2,642 performances until the 4th of January, 2009. It has been adapted as a musical film in 2007, featuring an ensemble cast that included John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, and Zac Efron!

The director, Calixto Bieito is renowned in the classical theatre sphere for his radical and intriguing interpretation of classic operas. He has worked across Europe, with his productions being showcased in some of the most famous opera theatres in the world at Stuttgart, Basel, Hanover, Zurich, Oslo, Munich, Paris, and Belgium. Bieito’s Carmen has travelled across the globe, making its debut in Catalonia all the way back in 1999 and touring Europe and North America. Carmen is set in a border region of Africa in the latter half of the 1970s, unlike the original that was set in the early 19th century in Seville. Bieito is a master in adapting classic works to modern settings, to engage with present-day audiences. The lead character is played by the mezzo-soprano, Justina Gringyte, for which she has gone on to win critical acclaim worldwide! Bieito is all set to shatter opera norms, as he brings Bizet’s most famous work to the West End stage!

The Story

Set in colonial North Africa in a remote military outpost, an oppressive and violent air looms throughout the camp. Morales cracks a whip, as a soldier squad get into formation. A single soldier stripped to his briefs and boots is running punishment laps, until he falls down due to exhaustion. There is a constant threat of sexual violence hanging in the air, that threatens to consume everyone around. Carmen craves love, but all she seems to do is evoke jealousy and obsession in others around her. Will she be swallowed by this desire that she has unknowingly kindled in the men around her?

Good for

Lovers of Opera | Georges Bizet Fans | Fans of Classical Music

Critics Reviews

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