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Carmen

10 July – 19 September 2025

In the Joan Sutherland Theatre

Opera Australia

Opera

Take an adrenaline-pumping ride through lust, jealousy and spectacle in this bold new production of an opera classic.

Useful information:

Smuggler, seductress, risk-taker, rebel. Who is this woman that turns every head?

When Carmen meets Don José, sparks fly. She won’t give up her freedom, and Don José won’t give up his girl. Their smouldering passion sets the stage for tragedy.

This visceral opera is thrilling from the moment the curtain rises and the orchestra races away with the overture. It features the famous Toreador song, the Habanera and moving Flower song.

One of Australia’s great theatre directors, Anne-Louise Sarks offers a bold new production of the opera classic. This is a Carmen for our time, asking urgent questions about opera’s iconic femme fatale, whose dance with destiny ends in disaster.

Australian opera sensation Danielle de Niese opens the season with an exciting role debut.

Presented by Opera Australia

Artist information

Conductor  Lidiya Yankovskaya (July 10 – Aug 4), Natalie Murray Beale (Aug 7 – Sep 1), Tahu Matheson (Sep 3 – 19)
Director  Anne-Louise Sarks
Set & Costume Designer  Marg Howell
Lighting Designer  Paul Jackson

Carmen  Danielle de Niese (July 10 – Aug 4), Rihab Chaieb (August 7 – Sep 1), Sian Sharp (Sep 3 – 11), Angela Hogan (Sep 13 – 19)
Don Jose  Abraham Bretón (Jul 10-Aug 4), Young Woo Kim (Aug 7-Sep 1), Diego Torre (Sep 3-19)
Escamillo  Andrii Kymach (Jul 10-Aug 4), Phillip Rhodes (Aug 7-Sep 19)
Micaëla  Jennifer Black (Jul 10-Aug 4 & Sep 3-19), Stacey Alleaume (Aug 7-Sep 1)

Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus

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