Vancouver Opera presents Bizet's CARMEN April 27 to Mary 5

Vancouver Opera is thrilled to close its successful 2023-2024 season with Georges Bizet’s most beloved opera, Carmen. It has been nearly 10 years since our last production and the stage is set for passion, drama, world-class talent, and an unforgettable experience for opera enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Carmen is one of the most widely performed works in operatic history and Vancouver audiences will have five opportunities to see this production. 

Carmen has already eclipsed all previous Vancouver Opera box office records, and audiences are encouraged to book tickets now to avoid disappointment. The excitement surrounding Vancouver Opera’s 2023-2024 season finale is a testament to the enduring allure of Bizet's opera and Vancouver Opera's commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.

This lush, grand-scale production updates the original setting from late-1800s southern Spain to an unnamed, pan-Latin city in the mid-1950s, where mounting political tensions and romantic desires match the scorching midsummer temperatures. Eye-catching but peeling billboards, bustling town squares and dive cafés, and costumes that range from proletariat denim to opulent bullfighting regalia give a vivid but distressed texture to this timeless tale of class division and teeming emotion.

Rachel Peake returns to Vancouver Opera (The Pearl Fishers) to direct Carmen alongside conductor Leslie Dala (The Flying Dutchman) for a five-show engagement of seductive arias, enduring, richly coloured melodies, and rhythmic vibrancy. Animated by an all-star cast and audacious stagecraft, the conflicting worlds and failed romance of the sensual, rebellious Carmen and the possessive military man Don José absolutely burst off the stage. From the stirring Toreador Song to the tauntingly seductive aria Habanera, Georges Bizet’s music transcends the hummable while cutting a compelling path through a story that intertwines the political and the personal.

Portraying the romantic title character are mezzo-sopranos Sarah Mesko (April 27, May 2 & 4) and Carolyn Sproule (April 28 & May 5). The fiery Don Jose is performed by Alok Kumar (April 27, May 2 & 4) and Matthew White (April 28 & May 5).  Appearing in all five performances are soprano Jonelle Sills (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as Micaela, Nathan Keoughan making his company debut as Escamillo, Alain Coulombe (Turandot) as Zuniga, and Luka Kawabata (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) as Le Dancaire. Joining them are Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Jeremy Scinocca as Le Remendado, Simran Claire as Mercedes, Heidi Duncan as Frasquita and Danlie Rae Acebuque as Morales.

Experience the passion of Carmen and purchase your tickets through the Vancouver Opera box office online or by phone at 604-683-0222. Vancouver Opera would like to remind patrons to only purchase tickets from Vancouver Opera instead of third-party ticket sellers.

Carmen is sung in French with English SURTITLES™ projected above the stage.