"Viktoria Vizin used her statuesque beauty to advantage, offering a sympathetic Carmen who clearly enjoys the power she wields over the opposite sex." - Chicago Tribune

Bizet's sizzling opera springs to vivid life in this production that originated at Madrid's Teatro Real. Emilio Sagi, who received critical kudos with last season's Luisa Fernanda, directs this great masterpiece of the lyric theatre. Mezzo-soprano Viktoria Vizin, who was hailed as a "ravishing Carmen" by the Chicago Tribune in her appearance at Lyric Opera, makes her Company debut as the sensuous Gypsy diva. Tenor Marcus Haddock takes the part of the obsessive and self-destructive Don José, a role in which he is a "knock-out" (The Independent). Genia Kühmeier makes her Company debut as Micaëla. Acclaimed bass Raymond Aceto takes the role of Escamillo. Emmanuel Villaume, Spoleto Festival USA's Music Director for Opera & Orchestra, conducts.

CARMEN	Viktoria Vizin*	View Profile
CARMEN	Nancy Fabiola Herrera*	View Profile
DON JOSé	Marcus Haddock	View Profile
DON JOSé	German Villar*	View Profile
MICAëLA	Genia Kühmeier*	View Profile
MICAëLA	Sabina Cvilak*	View Profile
ESCAMILLO	Raymond Aceto	View Profile

CONDUCTOR	Emmanuel Villaume	View Profile
PRODUCTION	Emilio Sagi	View Profile
DIRECTOR	Javier Ulacia*	View Profile
SET DESIGNER	Gerardo Trotti	View Profile
COSTUME DESIGNER	Jesus del Pozo	View Profile
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR/CHORUS MASTER	Grant Gershon	View Profile

* LA Opera debut.

RUNNING TIME
3 hours and 30 minutes, including two intermissions

PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURE:
One hour prior to each performance.
Pre-performance lectures are generously sponsored by the Flora L. Thornton Foundation and the Opera League of Los Angeles.

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Sung in French with English Supertitles.

Artists and dates subject to change.