Georges Bizet – Carmen (Conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner / Opéra Comique)

Georges Bizet died at the tragically young age of 36 while Carmen was still in its first run, and he never witnessed the huge international acclaim his opera received. Filled with jealousy and passion, the gripping and ultimately tragic narrative of Carmen initially shocked audiences, but with an abundance of memorable tunes, it remains unchallenged as one of the most popular operas ever written. Carmen received its premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris in 1875, and this internationally acclaimed production, performed on period instruments, represents a triumphant return to its home theatre. ‘Carmen has never sounded more revolutionary, romantic or thrillingly vibrant’ (The Times, London). Opéra-comique in four acts (1875) Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy after the novella Carmen by Prosper Mérimée Carmen – Anna Caterina Antonacci, soprano Don José – Andrew Richards, tenor Micaëla – Anne-Catherine Gillet, soprano Escamillo – Nicolas Cav