Carmen premieres at Mikhailovsky Theatre
The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s repertoire will soon be enriched with one of the world’s most beloved operas, Carmen. The premiere, on the 5th, 6th, and 7th of September, will kick off the 191st season, marking the beginning of an exciting theatrical year.
For the first time in its history, the Mikhailovsky Theatre will present a choreographer’s interpretation of Georges Bizet’s opera. Nacho Duato’s directorial debut is a profound contemplation on the predestined nature of fate, love, death, and freedom.
Duato has created 14 ballet productions at the Mikhailovsky Theatre. This therefore is not only an intriguing artistic experience, but also a distinctive continuation of the ‘Spanish themes’, which began in 2022 with the ballet Hidalgo of La Mancha.
Duato is collaborating with a European production team for this performance. Jaffar Chalabi is the stage designer for Carmen, whose signature style of fashionable minimalism, imagery, and functional stage solutions is immediately recognised by audiences. Angelina Atlagic, the costume designer, contributes her invariably elegant artistic style, mesmerising beauty, and well-thought-out details.
Maestro Alexander Soloviev is musical director. “Carmen is one of my favorite operas,” he confesses. “It has everything: bitter conflict, intense passion, detailed and authentic character portrayal, vivid romantic collision, tragic passion, and psychologically profound characters. Take, for instance, the transformation of José, who falls into the grips of a doomed love affair. How could someone so devotedly loving and tender (albeit passionate), turn into the murderer of his beloved? How can love—even if fanatical and blind—lead to such a dreadful climax, where you destroy what is dear to you simply because you cannot allow another to have it?”
We will soon see how the creators of this new production will respond to these questions. Stay updated with the latest news about the production on our website and social media.
Tickets are on sale now.
