Carmen
A seductive tale of betrayal and obsession
-
Melbourne / Naarm
7 – 18 March 2025
-
Canberra / Ngambri
20 – 24 June 2025
-
Duration
1 hour and 44 minutes / 1 Interval
Join waitlist for Carmen
★★★★★
Johan Inger’s Carmen is yet another triumph for The Australian Ballet
- Limelight
★★★★½
Bodily gesture, emotion and staging find incredible synergy
- ArtsHub
Johan Inger’s award-winning production of Carmen is an exhilarating journey that thrusts Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera into the modern world with a breathtaking display of athleticism and passion.
Created in 2015, Inger’s contemporary retelling of Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella is a darkly compelling story of the dangerously seductive Carmen, whose love affair with Don José ends in brutal tragedy. Broadening its gaze beyond its fiery heroine, Inger’s Carmen is seen through the eyes of a boy bewildered by the ugly manifestations of machismo.
Using Georges Bizet's famous score, Inger has reimagined the classic opera, transporting it to dance in a fascinating production. Including sublime passages for soloists and duos and ensemble sequences of consummate virtuosity, Carmen brings you the heat of southern Spain in a powerfully unique production.
David Hallberg's insight
"Johan's vision for this famous story is really unique. What I love is the reality of the emotions, and the grit of the movement. This is a Carmen for today's time.”
Carmen contains mature adult themes including sexual content and depictions of violence, that some people may find disturbing.
Carmen contains use of theatrical weapons.
5 Reasons to see Carmen
How choreographer Johan Inger adapted the famous story for the ballet stage.
Finding Carmen
Principal Artist Jill Ogai on developing her version of the fierce and fiery character.
Production credits
Choreography Johan Inger
Assistant choreographers Toby Mallitt, Javier Rodríguez Cobos and Urtzi Aranburu
Dramaturg Gregor Acuña-Pohl
Music Rodion Shchedrin, after Georges Bizet, "Carmen Suite"
Georges Bizet, orchestrated by Álvaro Domínguez Vázquez, "Overture" and "Danse Bohème"
Additional original music Marc Álvarez
These performances of “Carmen Suite” by Georges Bizet (arranged by Rodion Shchredrin) are given by arrangement with Origin Theatrical Pty Ltd, exclusive agents Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd of London
Lighting design Tom Visser
Set design Curt Allen Wilmer and Leticia Gañán (aapee) with Estudio DeDos
Costume design David Delfín
Costume design associate Maria Luisa Ramos
World première 9 April 2015, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain, Compaňia Nacional de Danza Madrid
Music
Melbourne
With Orchestra Victoria
Canberra
With Canberra Symphony Orchestra