It's Bizet’s fiery masterpiece of seduction, obsession, and tragedy. Mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina (praised by The New Yorker for the “fresh, ferocious energy” of her Carmen in the 2023–24 season) reprises her star-making portrayal, alongside tenor Michael Fabiano in this week's broadcast. Pier Giorgio Morandi conducts.
A scandal at its 1875 premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris, Bizet’s most popular opera has had an impact far beyond the opera house. The work’s melodic sweep is as irresistible as the title character herself, a force of nature who has become a defining female cultural figure. Carmen has become one of the most frequently staged operas in the world.
Tune in for our live broadcast from The Metropolitan Opera House, Saturday, January 17, at 1 p.m.
