The 175th Subscription Concert in Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall

Tokyo Opera City Tower

EPSG:4326

The 1035th Subscription Concert in Bunkamura Orchard Hall

Bunkamura

The fiercely independent Carmen lives—and loves—on her own terms. When she sets her sights on Don José, a straight-laced soldier with a fiancée back home, he quickly unravels, abandoning everything for her. But Carmen’s heart doesn’t stay in one place for long, and when the charismatic toreador Escamillo enters the ring, jealousy turns deadly. Set to Bizet’s iconic, rhythm-driven score, Carmen is a story of desire, freedom, and fatal choices.

Carmen

Cincinnati Music Hall

The 1034th Subscription Concert in Suntory Hall

ARK Hills

“A Night at the Opera” brings the grand tradition of European opera into our American Adventures season, celebrating the larger-than-life drama, romance, and spectacle that have captivated audiences for centuries. This performance will showcase highlights of the work in concert format, featuring the Summit Choral Society alongside soloists selected from Central City Opera’s prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Young Artists Training Program. Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute sets the stage with brilliance and mystery, its noble chords and quicksilver passages opening the door to a world of fantasy. From Rossini’s swaggering “Largo al factotum” to Bizet’s sultry “Habanera,” from the thunder of Verdi’s Anvil Chorus to the soaring triumph of “Nessun dorma,” this program unfolds as a gallery of unforgettable moments—choruses, duets, and overtures that showcase opera’s full emotional range, from intimate confession to exhilarating spectacle. 

A Night at the Opera

Riverwalk Center

A square in Sevilla. Soldiers are whiling away the time in front of their guardhouse. Micaela enters and asks after Don Jose, who, however, is not expected until the changing of the guard. She says she will return again and runs off as the men laugh at her.

Max-Joseph-Platz

The next Music Director of the Teatro alla Scala, Myung-Whun Chung, reaches his eleventh opera title at La Scala (having conducted over 140 concerts both at home and on tour) with this new production of Bizet’s Carmen, a co-production with London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Madrid’s Teatro Real. Well-versed in French music—also through his work with the Opéra Bastille and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France—Chung leads a cast that is perfectly idiomatic. Alongside Clémentine Margaine in the title role, alternating with Stéphanie d’Oustrac, and Giorgi Manoshvili as Escamillo, the production features Vittorio Grigolo as Don José—a major Italian voice with a strong affinity for the French repertoire— alternating with Matthew Polenzani. Damiano Michieletto and set designer Paolo Fantin reduce local colour to a minimum in order to construct a bare and effective spectacle, focused on the ineluctable fate of the protagonists.

Teatro alla Scala

Under the baton of guest conductor José Luis Gómez, Summer Tales launches the 210 Festival—The Orchestra San Antonio’s signature summer celebration—inviting you to embark on a journey not by planes or trains, but through the music and imagination of summer adventures. The evening is full of familiar melodies—they are journeys full of color, tension, rhythm, and romance. Summer Tales is a musical escape filled with passion, power, and storytelling. The Orchestra San Antonio proudly welcomes rising star and cellist Cameron Renshaw to the Tobin Center stage in an epic showcase of talent.

Join us one hour before each concert in the Feik Family Rotunda for a lively pre-concert discussion with guest artists. Gain unique insights into the music, the creative process, and what to listen for as the evening unfolds.

Summer Tales

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

The freedom-loving Carmen is desired by all men. Although none of their relationships last, the soldier Don José falls madly in love with her after she coquettishly throws a flower at his feet.

Vienna State Opera

Mussorgsky Khachaturian Bizet

Gasteig HP8

Under the musical direction of Gianandrea Noseda and Ann-Katrin Stöcker, the newly founded Kinderopernorchester performs excerpts from «Carmen» and «Hänsel und Gretel» alongside soloists and the Kinderchor der Oper Zürich.

Concert Kinderopernorchester­concert

Zurich Opera House

Teatro La Fenice

In this program, our orchestral toy shop is a whirlwind of activity: Under the direction of Kazuki Yamada, we joyfully immerse ourselves in the colorful and magical realm of childhood fantasy – with a work by Debussy, inspired in 1913 by the illustrator André Hellé. He once remarked: "Toy boxes are actually cities where toys live like real people." And he added ironically: "Or perhaps cities are nothing but toy boxes where people live like toys." For the delightful composition "La boîte à joujoux," we pull a pretty doll, a tin soldier, and a quarrelsome jumping jack from the musical box and bring this wonderful bedtime story to life on stage. The poetic world of children was also a fertile source of inspiration for Bizet: in 1871, with his piano cycle "Jeux d'enfants," he created a charming collection of short, concise genre pieces – and thanks to his skillful orchestration, we will set a whirring top in motion on the stage in the small suite. 

Kazuki Yamada, Leif Ove Andsnes

Bamberger Symphoniker

A Tribute to Balanchine and Wheeldon with Pure and Powerful Dance.

This season, Giant Steps presents two of George Balanchine’s most iconic masterpieces—Apollo and Symphony in C—alongside Christopher Wheeldon’s Corybantic Games, which carries the torch forward into the 21st century.

Giant Steps

Royal Danish Opera

It is hard to believe that Carmen, the most performed opera in the world, was a flop at its premiere, precipitating the death of its author at the age of 36. Hadn't Bizet been able to show "real men and real women dazzled, tortured by passion," Théodore de Banville enthused? Tonight, three voices, the cigar maker, her lover Don José and the bullfighter Escamillo, perform Carmen behind closed doors, a new lyrical suite that offers a summary of its key scenes. Another destiny cut short in the prime of life and inspiration is Lili Boulanger, the first woman to win the Prix de Rome, precisely with this cantata, Faust et Hélène .

Great tunes by Carmen Arquez - Behr / Cavallier

Maison de la Radio et de la Musique

The theme of the 2025/26 Orchestra Unwrapped concerts is centered around the history of the Philharmonia Orchestra, which was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge and celebrates its 80th birthday in 2025. Legge worked for a company called EMI, who was responsible for making recordings of classical music. 

The pieces you’ll hear take us on a journey through time linking to the exciting history of the Philharmonia, from 1945 to today – a history you are all part of by being part of Orchestra Unwrapped in its 80th year!

Bedford: Orchestra Unwrapped

Bedford Corn Exchange

Under the inspired baton of conductor Naomi Woo and accompanied by the Orchestre de l’Agora, the artists of the Atelier lyrique will take the stage to perform the defining highlights of their journey. This unique program, free of a formal narrative, is designed to showcase the excellence, vibrant personality, and remarkable artistic growth of each talent.

Gran finale

Place des Arts

Romantic Awakenings

Worthing Assembly Hall

Sheng Cai is an acclaimed Canadian pianist praised for his expressive depth and virtuosity. He has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Toronto Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, and Philharmonie Südwestfalen. A passionate interpreter of both standard and rare repertoire, his performances and recordings have earned international critical acclaim for their color, clarity, and power.

Masterworks: Musical Wanderlust

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Orchestre de Paris / Bar Avni

Philharmonie de Paris

On Ceylon, a community of fishermen lives by diving for pearls at the risk of their lives.

Les Pêcheurs de perles

The temple priestess Leila is supposed to banish the water spirits with her singing and protect the fishermen without ever lifting her veil. The return of Zurga's childhood friend Nadir throws events out of balance. The two friends had once sworn to renounce a girl they both loved in order to preserve their friendship. After Leila turns out to be this very girl, Nadir breaks his vow, just as Leila breaks hers, by lifting the veil. Zurga, who not only realizes that Leila once saved his life, but can now also admit his selfishness and jealousy, prevents the execution that the pearl fishers demand for the double breach of oath.

Senbla presents Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine, with Highly-Praised Soloists and Full Orchestra.

Ellen Kent Opera - Carmen

Cambridge Corn Exchange

Carmen is a freedom-loving woman who casts a spell on any man that crosses her path. Don José is a buttoned-down sergeant who falls for her charms. But when she turns her attention to another, José's love turns into obsession. With Carmen, Bizet created a true operatic classic replete with passion and sweeping melodies.

Oper Leipzig

Carmen is set in and around Seville, Spain, about 1820.

OLPH Catholic Academy of Brooklyn

Lust! Jealousy! Intrigue! Murder! It can only be Georges Bizet's simmering tale of a woman scorned - Carmen! Presented by the award-winning Ellen Kent Productions and Opera International and featuring the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, give yourself over to the delectable sights and sounds of this unforgettable opera. Featuring world-famous arias including the Toreador Song and the alluring Habanera, Ellen Kent's classic production will have you hot under the collar as it heads on its farewell tour in 2026!

Ellen Kent's Carmen

Princess Theatre - Torquay

Created by Cuban ballet star Carlos Acosta, this version of Carmen is set to Rodion Shchedrin's orchestration of Bizet's opera score, injected with Cuban music and danced by Acosta's impressive Havana-based company.

Carlos Acosta's Carmen

New Victoria Theatre

Stephen Joven-Lee, piano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Leicester: Orchestra Unwrapped

De Montfort Hall

Grand Opera House York

One of the world's most popular operas ever! The irresistible Carmen captivates the eyes of every man she meets, including the lovesick soldier Don José. As he forsakes his military duty, his fiancée, and the law, his admiration becomes uncontrollable obsession and Carmen leaves him for prestige and freedom. Bizet's famous music accompanies a lethal dance of lust, love, and survival that only stops when the struggle for freedom ends.

Seattle Center

This production will explore the full emotional range of Bizet’s tempestuous masterpiece — its beauty, its intensity, its truth — alongside a cast of operatic luminaries, including Rihab Chaieb, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Magali Simard-Galdès, and Ethan Vincent. 

A force of freedom and passion, Carmen’s charisma commands the attention of everyone in Seville. Don José is no exception. A loyal soldier, he surrenders his post, morals, and soul as he is ravaged by the flames of obsession. When Carmen’s attention turns to the daring bullfighter Escamillo, José’s jealousy takes a dark and fatal turn. Free in love and in death, our legendary heroine meets her fate as only Carmen can — fearlessly.

Once again the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra will finish out our season with another "over-the-top" orchestral journey. The young Russian phenomenon Andrey Gugnin -- who, last season, entered our hearts with a magisterial rendition of the Grieg Piano Concerto, done miraculously with the LSO without rehearsal! -- returns for what will no doubt be an equally majestic reading of the first of two concertos of Johannes Brahms, with whom our season began.....And on our second half, in another great La Crosse tradition, our two winning Conductor Wannabees will regale us with their podium talents! Two works redolent of the joys of summer -- a  poignant, forgotten gem of the Englishman Frederick Delius, and the ecstatic and oh-so-French "Daphnis and Chloe" ballet of Maurice Ravel -- wind up what will be a magnificent grand finale!

Andrey Returns!

Viterbo University

Is Carmen’s gaze only to be compared with that of a wild animal? The French writer Prosper Mérimée explored this question in his novella Carmen, which was the basis for Georges Bizet’s (1838-1875) final opera, which premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March 1875. Carmen’s air of seduction is both her weapon and her downfall, for in the end she dies at the hands of her jealous lover, Don José. Carmen refuses to be told what to do and certainly doesn’t want to be rescued by Don José in the shifting sands in front of the bullfighting arena. She prefers death to having her life decided by others. In the extremely popular and passionate “Habanera” aria, which is our first encounter with Carmen, she paints a picture of herself: “Love is a rebellious bird that none can tame.” Her indomitable desire for freedom is stamped in her DNA.

Semperoper Dresden

Richard Goode has been hailed for music-making of tremendous emotional power, depth and expressiveness, and acknowledged worldwide as one of today’s leading interpreters of Classical and Romantic piano music. Goode has curated a program called “Fancies and Goodnights”—borrowing the title from a book of bewitching tales by writer John Collier—that highlights works that have caught his ear with their beauty and unpredictability.

Richard Goode, piano

Oberlin College

Soirée Balanchine

San Carlo Theatre

Wind Division Recital

560 Music Center

Join the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras Repertory Orchestra for a concert with free admission. Repertoire includes I Vespri Siciliani (Verdi), selections from L’Arlesienne (Bizet), Lieutenant Kijé (Prokofiev), and the Grammy- and Oscar-winning hit song Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters! Email Nia Dewberry (ndewberry@columbussymphony.com) for more information.

The Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras are committed to supporting the lives of young musicians and their families through professional and enriching rehearsals and performances. We are here to serve and inspire the passionate music-makers of central Ohio and elevate our community through musical excellence and innovation.

Repertory Orchestra Concert

Weigel Auditorium

From the charm of Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2: Minuet and Farandole to the majesty of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, this concert brims with energy and grace. Joyce Yang captivates with Rachmaninoff’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 2, a work brimming with lyricism and feelings.

Jun Märkl conducts Rachmaninoff and Dvořák

Hilbert Circle Theatre

Carmen - Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour - featuring the Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine

Cliffs Pavilion

Green cello, blue bassoon, yellow piccolo—the vibrant hues of French music unfold like a painting by Monet or Gauguin, capturing fleeting moments of magic, conjuring fairytale worlds and whisking us away to distant lands. Ravel’s Ma Mère l’Oye contains five movements inspired by well-known fairy tales, while Mel Bonis evokes a sensual, dreamlike world in her Rêve de Cléopâtre.

Colour Play

Collège Jean-Eudes

Mercier Public Library

Paroisse Notre Dame de l'Annonciation

Paroisse St-Joachim de Pointe-Claire

Legendary dancer and ballet director Carlos Acosta brings his own breath-taking vision of the timeless operatic classic, coming on tour around the UK next year. Telling the extraordinary tale of love, desire, and dangerous jealousy, Carmen contains some of the most beloved musical motifs in classical music, and is beautifully reimagined by Acosta's expert hand.

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Get to know the many sides of the audience-favorite and beloved opera, Georges Bizet's Carmen, led by dramaturg Jonathan Dean. Plus, when you register for this seminar, you will automatically be included in a one-night-only lecture by conductor Ludovic Morlot about Bizet on May 5.

An Immersive Seminar: Carmen

Seattle Opera

How do composers write music? What do they find in their “tool box” to help them compose? Join Maestro Stephen Alltop and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra for an engaging and interactive program that will allow students to become composers, making decisions about instrumental sounds and colors. Students will enjoy favorite movements from Georges Bizet’s Carmen, Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and the Sicilienne by Gabriel Fauré.

The 2026 CUSO Youth Concerts are produced in partnership with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, with funding from the CUSO Youth Music Appreciation Endowment Fund, the Meredith Foundation, Guild of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, the Robeson Family Benefit Fund, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

School Performance: Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra | The Composer's Tool Box (KCYS)

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Aigul Akhmetshina

Senbla presents Ellen Kent's Farewell Opera Tour featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine, with Highly-Praised Soloists and Full Orchestra. Carmen - An evening of passion, sexual jealousy, death and unforgettable arias. This dazzling production with orchestra features Bizet's unforgettable melodies including 'The Toreador's Song', Carmen's enticing 'Habanera', and Don José's lyrical 'Flower Song' in a setting evoking the stunning architecture of Seville and its main square with Roman and Moorish influences. "Impassioned and sultry" The Observer. Sung in French with English surtitles. *Cast subject to change.

Carmen - Ellen Kents Farewell Opera Tour

Sheffield City Hall

Sunderland Empire

TSO: Season Finale

Tempe Center for the Arts

Now in its 48th season and led by Conductor Douglas Akey, the TSO presents four captivating concerts each year at Tempe Center for the Arts—showcasing a vibrant mix of classical favorites, modern works, and local talent.

Tempe Symphony Orchestra: Season Finale

Rio Salado Park

WhenThe Prince's Music Corpsinvites you to a concert with the American-Swedish sopranoBarbara Hendricks, a world-class musical event is planned. Hendricks is one of the 20th century's most brilliant opera stars whose voice fascinates audiences to this day.

Barbara HendricksandThe Prince's Music Corps

Aarhus Music Hall

Come and experience some of the greatest music from the world of opera. Overtures, dance suites, and entr'actes - from beloved classics to exciting new favorites - offer a glimpse into the rich musical worlds of some of opera's most iconic works. Conductor Bruce Kiesling will introduce each piece with his signature charm, wit, and humor before leading the orchestra in performance of this colorful and compelling music.

Overtures & Interludes

Visalia Fox Theatre

Bizet’s familiar opera Carmen, about a love triangle between a soldier, a bullfighter, and a free-spirited Gypsy, is new again in the hands of Ballet Hispánico New York. The New York-based company engaged three Spaniards for a note of authenticity: choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, and his designers for sets and costumes. Sansano excerpted music from several Bizet compositions, but of course, the bolero and habanera are lifted straight from the opera, with the choreography adding a distinct Spanish flare. Sansano added “maquia” to the title of his creation to emphasize a battle to the death. In Spanish, bullfighting is called “tauromaquia.”

Ballet Hispánico New York

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

Enjoy a night of music filled with rhythm, charm, and storytelling. Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2 opens the evening with lively dances and heartfelt melodies. Paule Maurice’s Tableaux de Provence follows, painting vivid musical scenes of Southern France. The second half features Bernstein’s Fancy Free, a playful ballet about sailors on shore leave, before closing with John Williams’ Escapades from Catch Me If You Can, featuring the legendary Branford Marsalis on saxophone for a thrilling, movie-inspired finale.

Branford Marsalis Plays John Williams

Michigan Theatre

What happens when school spirit, cinematic power, and classical fanfare meet center stage? You get Mad About Marches—a sport-centric evening of pure orchestral momentum that brings together fans of music, athletics, and pageantry in one unforgettable celebration.

This pulse-pounding program kicks off with a flurry of iconic marches that span stadiums, screen, and ceremony. From Sousa’s Washington Post March to the unmistakable energy of Roundball Rock (the theme to NBA on NBC), the first half delivers big brass, booming percussion, and instantly recognizable anthems. Audiences will cheer for local favorites like the University of Michigan and Michigan State University fight songs, get swept up in the thrill of John Williams’ Imperial March, and soar with one of his Olympic masterpieces. It’s a full-court press of musical power and pride.

Mad About Marches

Ford Center for the Performing Arts

From great romance to revolutionary fervour, France doesn’t do things by halves. Passion and flair pulse through every corner of French cultural life, whether in the cool sophistication of its cinema, the rich flavours of its cuisine or the vibrant sounds of its music.

The Hallé: Vive La France!

Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

Back by popular demand, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s fiery Carmen returns for an encore that’s bold and unforgettable.

Ziff Ballet Opera House

London: Orchestra Unwrapped

Southbank Centre

Each season ticket purchase will provide you with one ticket to each of the upcoming six concerts of the season. If there is a concert you cannot attend, we can either donate your ticket to a student/veteran or provide you with extra tickets to a different concert date.

A Rhapsody of Passion & Elegance​

La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 opens with one of the most famous musical statements of all time – a defiant gesture in the face of fate.

Paired with Bizet’s Carmen Symphony, this program explores resistance in many forms: Beethoven’s heroic struggle through adversity, and Bizet’s bold portrayal of passion, class and freedom in a world that expected convention.

Fate and Defiance

The Vista Center for the Arts

Feel the fiery passion and unforgettable melodies of Bizet’s Carmen as the Abilene Philharmonic brings this iconic opera to life in a thrilling symphonic concert. Experience the drama, romance, and excitement of one of classical music’s most beloved masterpieces.

Masterworks IV: Carmen

Abilene Convention Center

Michael Abels’ More Seasons is a modern interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, specifically “Spring” and “Summer,” but with a “maniacal, Minimalist abuse” of the original themes, as Abels himself has stated. It’s often described as “Vivaldi in a Mixmaster.” A review of the first performance stated that Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto “is the most admirable, singular, artistic and complex Beethoven concerto ever.” Written in 1855 at the age of 17 and never played during his lifetime, Bizet’s Symphony in C was “discovered” in 1933. It has been in the symphonic repertoire ever since due to its beautiful melodies, rich orchestration, and elegant charm.

Beethoven & Bizet

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

Step into the enchanting world of Paris with A Night in Paris!—a captivating concert that will transport you straight to the City of Light. Join us for an unforgettable evening, featuring the sensational guest soloist Rosana Eckert, as we journey through the heart of French music. From Offenbach’s lively Can-Can to the lush melodies of Piaf’s La Vie en Rose and Sous le Ciel de Paris, the night will be filled with passion and beauty. Experience the haunting Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns, the dreamy Clair de Lune by Debussy, and the mesmerizing Daphnis & Chloe, Suite No. 1 by Ravel. With powerful orchestral works like Bizet’s L’Arlésienne and Berlioz’s Le Corsair Overture also on the program, every note will be a celebration of French artistry. Let the music sweep you away on a magical night in Paris you’ll never forget!

A Night In Paris!

Violinist Tessa Lark and conductor Shiyeon Sung make welcome returns for a program of Lili Boulanger, Barber’s Violin Concerto, and music from Bizet’s classic opera Carmen.

A traditionalist in the era of atonality, Barber’s concerto contrasts lyricism with folk-like melodies and an incredibly breakneck finale. An American classic, it remains one of the most performed 20th century violin concertos.

Bizet and Barber

Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Concert lesson - L'opera va a scuola

Istituto Comprensivo "E. Balducci" di Fiesole

Carmen in Concert

Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center

The Farewell tour
Lust! Jealousy! Intrigue! Murder! It can only be Georges Bizet's simmering tale of a woman scorned - Carmen! Presented by the award-winning Ellen Kent Productions and Opera International and featuring the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, give yourself over to the delectable sights and sounds of this unforgettable opera. Featuring world-famous arias including the Toreador Song and the alluring Habanera, Ellen Kent's classic production will have you hot under the collar as it heads on its farewell tour in 2026!

Do you know the story of Carmen, this free and intrepid bohemian? Coveted by the officer Don José, madly in love with the beauty, and the proud bullfighter Escamillo, she turns many heads... Between love, jealousy and passion, vibrate to the sound of the famous Habanera and Bizet 's Chanson du Toréador , and accompany the OPRL on this revolutionary journey. A live show full of surprises, telling the incredible destiny of this independent and liberated heroine.

Carmen, the rebel bird

Flagey

Philharmonic Hall of Liege

Ellen Kent: The Farewell Tour - Carmen

The National Opera Studio Young Artists present an extraordinary evening celebrating the Studio’s collaboration with two of its partner companies: English National Opera and Scottish Opera. In this special showcase performance, immerse yourself in captivating operatic scenes spanning the 19th and 20th centuries.

Act Three

Blackheath Halls

The well-known opera connoisseur Lasse Walldov comes to Sjöbo and tells you all about "Carmen" by Georges Bizet, which has long been one of the world's most performed operas. It premiered in Paris in 1875, and has been performed again and again since then.

Lasse Walldov talks about "Carmen"

Parish house, Sjöbo

Experience the drama and passion of Bizet’s Carmen brought to life by guest opera vocalists.

Carmen!

Louis G. Kaufman Auditorium

He wrote magnificent works, the French composer Georges Bizet! But where did he get all his ideas from? Sometimes it sounds Spanish, sometimes Italian, or even Oriental. Or, quite obviously, like something from the children's room next door? Pia sets out to find out, because his music was a bit unfamiliar to people back then. Pia seeks answers to all these questions and has to solve a few puzzles along the way. But one thing is clear: Bizet's "Carmen" music is still a real hit today...

In Carmen's footsteps

Old Congress Hall, Munich

From the moment Carmen makes her entrance on her motorcycle, she becomes the center of a carousel of passion, jealousy and drama. A fiery, strong and confident woman who refuses to be captured becomes a red herring for the men who want to possess her. And as so often in real life, it has fatal consequences. 

Georges Bizet's opera about the seductive and independent Carmen is one of the world's most performed and beloved operas. 

The captivating music is known far beyond opera circles and is frequently quoted in pop culture. It can be heard in films, pop songs, advertising jingles and at sporting events. Even those who have never set foot in an opera house can whistle  Toreadorarian  and know the passionate and freedom-loving Carmen. 

Malmo Opera, Malmo

New Theatre Oxford

A brass quintet of exceptional caliber. When trumpet, trombone, horn, and tuba come together in the hr concert hall, you can expect a rich, magnificent sound and a varied and captivating program. Frankfurt Radio Brass was founded in 2023 by five members of the hr Symphony Orchestra with the desire to present the audience not only with orchestral repertoire but also with the broad and brilliant spectrum of brass music at the highest level. From Baroque and Romantic to contemporary, there's something for everyone, because the musicians of Frankfurt Radio Brass have made it their mission to present every genre of music with the same passion, musicality, and technical perfection that listeners have come to expect from the hr Symphony Orchestra. The joy of making music together is always paramount and is visible and palpable to everyone.

Brass Connection

Hessischer Rundfunk

Senbla presents Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine, with Highly-Praised Soloists and Full Orchestra.

An evening of passion, sexual jealousy, death and unforgettable arias.

This dazzling production with orchestra features Bizet’s unforgettable melodies including ‘The Toreador’s Song’, Carmen’s enticing ‘Habanera’, and Don José’s lyrical ‘Flower Song’ in a setting evoking the stunning architecture of Seville and its main square with Roman and Moorish influences.

Carmen: Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour - featuring the Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine

Fairfield Halls

Spanish music has an atmosphere of its own which Manuel de Falla captured in concert works better than anyone else. His music for Serge Diaghilev’s ballet The Three Cornered Hat thrusts bright colours, crisp rhythms and harmonic panache up against one another and here sets up an evening of Spain-inspired works to include red-hot music by Falla, Rodrigo’s fragrant guitar concerto and pieces by French composers Bizet and Massenet who couldn’t resist the allures of the impassioned dances and folk songs south of the border. Guest conductor from Spain Antonio Méndez leads the orchestra with superstar guitarist MILOŠ for company.

Spanish Nights with MILOŠ

University of Oxford

MSM Symphony Orchestra and MSM Opera Theatre present Opera in Concert

Manhattan School of Music

This operatic tour de force features highlights from two of the greatest operas ever written—Bizet’s Carmen and Puccini’s Turandot—in an electrifying concert with acclaimed Canadian tenor David Pomeroy,  soprano Krista da Silva, soprano Andrea Hill, mezzo-soprano Barbara King and a stellar cast from the Calgary Concert Opera Company.

An Afternoon at the Opera

Arts Commons

He deserts, renounces a budding relationship with Micaëla, a girl from his village, and joins Carmen's band of smugglers. This time too, Carmen's feelings grow cold and she is only interested in the bullfighter Escamillo. An argument between Don José and Carmen escalates in front of the arena: Filled with jealousy, Don José kills his former lover.

Dmitri Kabalevsky’s quirky, lighthearted The Comedians was originally incidental music for a children’s play. It has become one of his best-loved works, and it is the springboard for the creativity of our puppeteering friends at Huntsville M.E.T. in this year’s FREE Family Concert, open to the entire community. Also on the program are two well-known short pieces by Edvard Grieg, and a reprise of Bizet’s Children’s Games from earlier in the concert season. It’s a fantastically fun way to introduce families and youngsters to the symphony orchestra! The performance is preceded by musical games and activities in the concert hall lobby. All ages are welcome.

The Comedians

Von Braun Center

In a love triangle with a high priestess, no one can win. Nadir and Zurga have loved and foresworn Leïla in order to maintain their friendship. Meanwhile, Leïla’s vow of chastity to serve the village creates a barrier to her future happiness. Crossing that barrier could end friendships and quite possibly lives. Yet Nadir and Leïla feel the magnetic pull of true love.

Georges Bizet

Events

Upcoming events

May 1 - Oct 9, 2026

Carmen · Semperoper Dresden

May 11 - Dec 25, 2026

Les Pêcheurs de perles · Wiener Staatsoper

Jun 1, 2026 - May 7, 2027

Carmen · Wiener Staatsoper

Aug 7, 2026

John Holiday · Minnesota Orchestra

Aug 13, 2026

Havana Lyceum Orchestra | José Antonio Méndez Padrón | Sarah Willis · Lucerne Festival

Past events

Jul 29, 2026

The 175th Subscription Concert in Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall · Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Jul 26, 2026

The 1035th Subscription Concert in Bunkamura Orchard Hall · Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

About

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