Opera

Charles Dutoit conducts Bizet: Carmen – With Kate Aldrich (Carmen), Dmytro Popov (Don José), Laurent Naouri (Escamillo), Sylvia Schwartz (Micaëla)

Verbier Festival Orchestra

Live

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Cast

Kate Aldrich — Carmen

Dmytro Popov — Don José

Laurent Naouri — Escamillo

Sylvia Schwartz — Micaëla

Julie Pasturaud — Mercédès

Florie Valiquette — Frasquita

Francis Dudziak — Le Dancaïre

François Piolino — Le Remendado

Jean-Luc Ballestra — Moralès

David Shipley — Zuniga

MasterVoices Chorus

Ted Sperling — Chorus director

Chœur Cantiamo de l'École de chant du Haut-Valais

Hansruedi Kämpfen — Chorus director

Verbier Festival Orchestra

Charles Dutoit — Conductor

Program notes

#mediciverbier10 – Former music director Charles Dutoit likes to set wild musical challenges at the Verbier Festival, often involving presenting French opera high in the Swiss Alps. After Pelléas and Mélisande and The Damnation of Faust, the conductor presents Bizet's Carmen.

American mezzo Kate Aldrich has triumphed in the lead role around the world and is accompanied here by an exceptional cast including Dmytro Popov, Laurent Naouri and Sylvia Schwartz.

The plot, based on a short story by Prosper Mérimée, takes place in Seville, Spain. Carmen is beautiful and free-spirited, breaking numerous mens’ hearts but her Bohemian choices also condemn her. The figure of Carmen shocked audiences when the opera was premiered, but today she is more likely to fascinate. After being sent to jail following a fight with another cigar seller, Carmen seduces a young brigadier Don José, Micaëla's fiancé and promises him love if he gives her back her freedom...

Picture: Kate Aldrich © Fadil Barisha

A closer look: featured composers

Georges Bizet

Further listening: featured works

Carmen

Georges Bizet (Composer)

More info