Bizet
CarmenThis event has passed.
Georges Bizet’s classic opera of jealousy, lust, and life outside the dictates of society gets a boldly updated new production to conclude Scottish Opera’s 60th Season.
With such hit melodies as the Habanera, Flower Aria, and Toreador Song – alongside Bizet’s magnificent orchestral interludes and rousing chorus numbers – the opera has musical riches for all.
‘Director John Fulljames’ version is a stunning, constantly surprising spectacle’ — The Skinny on Nixon in China 2020
But Carmen is not merely one show-stopping number after another. With director John Fulljames (Nixon in China 2020) at the helm and a design team led by Sarah Beaton and Christina Cunningham, Carmen’s iconic images are delivered amidst the unrest and upheavals of 1970s Spain, where the investigation into Carmen’s murder runs alongside the systems that led to her death. Carmen is the eternal outsider, carving out a life by her own rules in a militaristic and patriarchal society. The contrast of an often buoyant score and much crowd-driven action with the libretto’s introspective psychological darkness – here thrown into greater prominence in an English translation – makes Carmen an endlessly fascinating work.
With Justina Gringyte in the title role and featuring four of Scottish Opera’s 22/23 Emerging Artists – Zoe Drummond, Lea Shaw, Osian Wyn Bowen, and Colin Murray – Carmen tours to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, and Aberdeen, ensuring many chances to see the Company’s timely take on this timeless masterpiece.
This production includes images of dead bulls and crime scenes, and themes of violence including police brutality, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
Kindly supported by The Scottish Opera Syndicate
What the press said
★★★★ The Stage
‘beautifully performed in every musical aspect’
‘the principals are never less than shimmering’
★★★★ The List
‘The chorus was on sparkling form as usual, and the orchestra, under conductor Dane Lam, fizzed with fiery passion.’
The Spectator
'The audience in Glasgow appeared gripped, and Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh are in for a thoroughly entertaining night when it goes on tour.'
★★★★★ Inverness Courier
'John Fulljames' setting of this most beloved of opera's sets fire to the imagination'
★★★★ The Telegraph
‘Gringyte and Kumar are superb throughout’
‘a strong and inventive Carmen which is bound to wow audiences throughout Scotland’
‘the orchestra plays Bizet’s remarkable score with a delicate, sensitive freshness and, when required, an invigorating heft’
★★★★ Bachtrack
‘A fine end to Scottish Opera’s 60th birthday season’
The National
'A strong and affecting Carmen'
Cast & Creatives
Carmen
Justina Gringyte
Don José
Alok Kumar
Escamillo
Phillip Rhodes
Micaëla
Hye-Youn Lee
Zuniga
Thomas D Hopkinson
Le Dancaïre
Colin Murray
Le Remendado
Osian Wyn Bowen
Moralès
Dan Shelvey
Frasquita
Zoe Drummond
Mercédès
Lea Shaw
Investigator
Carmen Pieraccini
Conductor
Dane Lam
Assistant Conductor
Toby Hession
Conductor – 23, 25 May in Inverness
Chorus Director
Susannah Wapshott
Repetiteur
Fiona MacSherry; Kristina Yorgova
Director
John Fulljames
Set Designer
Sarah Beaton
Costume Designer
Christina Cunningham
Lighting Designer
James Farncombe
Projection Designer
Will Duke
Movement Director
Jenny Ogilvie
Assistant Director
Roxana Haines
Watch
Carmen Investigated - with crime author Francine Toon | Carmen 2023
Trailer | Carmen 2023
Teaser | Carmen 2023
On the stage
(l to r) Lea Shaw (Mercédès), Justina Gringytė (Carmen) and Zoe Drummond (Frasquita). Scottish Opera 2023
Hye-Youn Lee (Micaëla), Alok Kumar (Don José) and Carmen Pieraccini (Investigator) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
The Chorus of Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop.
Alok Kumar (Don José) and Dan Shelvey (Moralès) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
The Chorus of Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023
Justina Gringytė (Carmen) and Alok Kumar (Don José) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023
Alok Kumar (Don José) and Carmen Pieraccini (Investigator) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Phillip Rhodes (Escamillo) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Justina Gringytė (Carmen) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
(l to r) Zoe Drummond (Frasquita), Justina Gringytė (Carmen), Alok Kumar (Don José) and Lea Shaw (Mercédès) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Alok Kumar (Don José) and Phillip Rhodes (Escamillo) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Colin Murray (Le Dancaïre), Justina Gringytė (Carmen) and Osian Wyn Bowen (Le Remendado) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Justina Gringytė (Carmen) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023
Justina Gringytė (Carmen) and Alok Kumar (Don José) with the cast of Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Justina Gringytė (Carmen) and Alok Kumar (Don José) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Alok Kumar (Don José) in Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
The Chorus of Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop
Justina Gringytė (Carmen) and Phillip Rhodes (Escamillo) in Scottish Opera's production of Carmen. Scottish Opera 2023. Credit James Glossop