Damiano Michieletto’s striking production returns, offering a fresh perspective on the intense themes of desire, violence, and passion in Bizet’s timeless opera.

Set in a secluded Spanish town, the fiercely independent Carmen lives by her own rules, warning that any man who loves her should be cautious. Yet even she is caught off guard when she sets her sights on Don José, a duty-bound police officer. Initially resistant to her allure, Don José soon finds himself unable to resist her charm, defying his mother and Micaëla, the devoted woman who loves him. Consumed by his obsession, he abandons his career to follow Carmen into a life of lawlessness alongside her smuggler companions. However, Carmen quickly grows tired of his possessive nature, yearning to reclaim her freedom. When she turns her attention to the renowned bullfighter Escamillo, Don José’s growing jealousy and heartbreak push him toward a dangerous breaking point.