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Opéra National de París: 'Carmen'

The 34 Opera and Dance Season of the Teatre principal de Palma opens with the famous opera-comique of Georges Bizet in this production of the Paris National Opera. Released in March 1875, Carmen received bad criticism and Bizet - who died of a heart attack at age 36 - could not see how his work would later become one of the most represented and successful of all times.

In this production directed by Calixto Bieito the unstoppable freedom of Carmen, and her need to live on the razor's edge acquires more weight than ever. Bieito places the action in the Spain of the 70s, with few but powerful scenic elements and as many lyrical as explicit scenes.

The Italian mezzo-soprano Annalisa Stroppa assumes the role of the protagonist, and the Basque Andeka Gorrotxategi that of Don José. The cast is completed with soloists Germán Olvera, Marta Bauzá, Pablo López, Jorge Tello, Anna Gomà, Tomeu Bibiloni and Marga Cloquell.

With musical direction by Manuel Coves, the Cor del Teatre Principal, the Cor infantil del Teatre Principal and the Illes Balears Symphony Orchestra are involved.

Opera-comique in four acts and with music by Georges Bizet, Carmen's libretto was written in French by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on Prosper Merimée's novel of the same title, which in turn was influenced by The Gypsies (1824 ) from Russian Aleksander Pushkin. In Spain it was premiered at the Teatre Líric in Barcelona on August 2, 1881.

Some scenes may be inappropriate for a young audience and can be offensive.

On Sundays, a free playroom service with the Principal Menut, for children between 3 and 12 years old.