Acclaimed English director Carrie Cracknell makes her Met debut in this resetting of the classic story to the modern day.
Great Performances at the Met: Carmen airs Sunday, July 14 at 1 p.m. on WXXI-TV.
Carrie Cracknell makes her Met debut, resetting the classic story to the modern day that moves the focus to issues that could not be more relevant today: gendered violence, abusive labor structures, and the desire to break through societal boundaries. Young mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina leads a quartet of stars in the complex and volatile title role, alongside tenor Piotr Beczała as Carmen’s troubled lover Don José, soprano Angel Blue as the loyal Micaëla, and bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen as the swaggering Escamillo. Daniele Rustioni conducts Bizet’s score.
Photo: Aigul Akhmetshina as Carmen
Photo courtesy of The Met Opera