“Smart staging, vibrant period costumes” —The San Francisco Examiner

Music by Georges Bizet and libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy

In French with Projected English Titles
Composed 1875
Co-Production with San Francisco Opera
Originally created by Opera Australia based on the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Norwegian National Opera co-production

Bold, uninhibited, and strong-willed, Carmen lives life on her own terms. She’s the woman who everyone wants—but she wants nothing but freedom. After she escapes trouble by seducing Don José, she sets her eyes on the bullfighter Escamillo. But when Don José’s jealousy finally catches up to Carmen’s fiery act of betrayal, her freedom will lead to shocking consequences.

An incredible cast performs this vibrant D.C. premiere production directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Evan Rogister, including superstars Isabel Leonard and Michael Fabiano in their role debut and company debut (respectively), and a mainstage debut for Marian Anderson Award Winner Ryan Speedo Green. Bizet’s blockbuster of tumultuous love has everything you want from an opera, from Carmen’s instantly recognizable “Habanera” aria to the famous “Toreador Song,” all culminating in a spectacular finale at a bullfight. Carmen’s determination to be “born free and to die free” is what makes her irresistible—but in love, does anything come without a price?

Please note: William Long will conduct performances on May 27 & 28.

May 27: Our Cafritz Young Artists take on some of the lead roles!

Featuring Matthew Pearce as Don José, Jonathan Bryan as Escamillo, and more Young Artists.

Please note, Rehanna Thelwell and Katerina Burton will no longer be performing. The May 27 performance will now feature Briana Hunter as Carmen and Vanessa Vasquez as Micaëla.

Come early for a Pre-Performance Talk

Join a free lecture before the production! Delve deeper as you take a peek inside the composer’s mind, behind the scenes of planning a production, and into the history and social context of each opera. These lectures are free, but patrons must present a ticket from any performance of the production that is being discussed in the lecture.
Most Pre-Performance Talks begin 1 hour before the performance and last 25–30 minutes.