Carmen Royal Academy of Music

"When Georges Bizet premiered Carmen at the Opera-Comique in Paris in 1875, audiences were startled by the Opera's realism, its feisty and independent heroine, and the bold departure from the polite conventions of the day. Adapted from Prosper Merimee's 1845 novella, the Opera unfolds in the streets and cigarette factories of nineteenth-century Seville. Bizet pairs Spanish-inflected melodies with innovative orchestration to create a score that still feels strikingly modern."

"The Opera was met with controversy, and Bizet died believing it a failure. However, Carmen soon became one of the most performed operas in the world, admired for its blend of historical grit, irresistible drama, and unforgettable music. It's the inspiration for films and musicals, too, and one of the operas you should consider if you are looking for an introduction to the art form."

Georges Bizet's Carmen premiered at the Opera-Comique in Paris in 1875 and shocked audiences with realism, a feisty heroine, and a break from polite conventions. Adapted from Prosper Merimee's 1845 novella, the opera unfolds in the streets and cigarette factories of nineteenth-century Seville. Bizet pairs Spanish-inflected melodies with innovative orchestration to produce a score that feels modern. After controversy and Bizet's death believing it a failure, Carmen became one of the most performed operas worldwide and inspired films and musicals. The Royal Academy of Music, Britain's oldest conservatoire founded in 1822, trains opera singers and stages a contemporised Carmen directed by Harry Fehr that engages emerging performers.

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