The Metropolitan Opera’s 2025-26 season of Saturday matinee broadcasts continues on January 17 with a live broadcast of one of the world’s most popular operas, Bizet’s "Carmen."
The sensational young mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina stars as the charismatic title character, who’s determined to live and love on her own terms. And acclaimed tenor Michael Fabiano sings one of his signature roles: Don José, the soldier dangerously obsessed with Carmen. The cast also features soprano Janai Brugger as the virtuous Micaëla and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn as the swaggering Escamillo. Maestro Pier Giorgio Morandi conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus in Bizet’s colorful score.
Listen to the broadcast of "Carmen" on Classical IPR at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 17.
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Want even more behind-the-scenes access? Each week, Met Opera chorus member Katherine DeYoung brings you exclusive looks at the sets, costumes and fun production facts on our Instagram. Follow @classicalipr on Instagram to catch her video dispatches and get an insider’s perspective.
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From the Met: "Bizet’s fiery masterpiece of seduction, obsession, and tragedy stars two of today’s leading mezzo-sopranos as Carmen, whose irresistible allure drives the soldier Don José to destruction.
"The score of 'Carmen' contains so many instantly recognizable tunes that it can be easy to overlook how well constructed it is. The major solos are excellent combinations of arresting melody and dramatic purpose—from the baritone’s famous Toreador Song to the tenor’s wrenching Flower Song to the title character’s alluring Habanera and Seguidilla—and the duets and ensembles are equally beguiling."
Read the synopsis from the Metropolitan Opera.
Composer: Georges Bizet
Libretto: Henri Meilhac, Ludovic Halevy
CAST
Carmen: Aigul Akhmetshina
Don José: Michael Fabiano
Micaëla: Janai Brugger
Escamillo: Christian Van Horn
Moralès: Yeongtaek Yang
Zuniga: Richard Bernstein
Frasquita: Susanne Burgess
Mercédès: Briana Hunter
Le Dancaïre: Eleomar Cuello
Le Remendado: Aaron Blake
