If Opera – Carmen

Carmen Georges Bizet

Librettists Henri Meilhac, Ludovic Halévy

Conductor Oliver Gooch
Director James Hurley
Designer Laura Stanfield
Lighting Designer Joe Price

With the Bristol Ensemble
Sung in French with English surtitles

Church Farm, Wingfield

Bizet’s Carmen takes centre stage in this bold, immersive production. Reimagined for the turn of the twentieth century and infused with the playful spirit of French opéra-comique, this production reveals original, rarely heard music alongside the opera’s most thrilling and instantly recognisable arias, from the seductive Habanera to the electrifying Seguidilla and the blazing Toreador chorus.

From its scandalous 1875 premiere to its enduring status as one of the world’s most loved operas, Carmen burns with passion, jealousy and Spanish fire, offering a vivid portrait of Bizet’s fiercely independent anti-heroine. We are delighted to welcome back Alyona Abramova in this title role, following her acclaimed performance as Maddalena in Rigoletto (2025), bringing depth, magnetism and vocal brilliance to this unforgettable character.