"Carmen", Bizet

On August 8th and 10th, audiences will be treated to a new operatic interpretation of Bizet's beloved Carmen, brought to life by Emilio Gómez. Set in post-war Spain, this reimagined production challenges social norms as Carmen, a rebellious and passionate gypsy, confronts the clash between traditional gypsy culture and urban influences of the 1950s.

Returning to the Quincena after 16 years, the opera will be accompanied by the Basque National Orchestra under the musical direction of José Miguel Pérez-Sierra, who was recently appointed musical director of Madrid's Teatro de la Zarzuela. The cast features Tunisian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb as Carmen and Ukrainian tenor Dmytro Popov as Don José, alongside a talented ensemble including Miren Urbieta-Vega (Micaela), Simón Orfila (Escamillo), and Marifé Nogales (Mercedes), Helena Orcoyen (Frasquita), José Manuel Díaz (Dancaire), Juan Laborería (Morales), Mikel Zabala (Zúñiga) and Aitor Garitano (Remendado). The choral passages will be brought to life by the voices of Easo Abesbatza.