Bizet’s perennially fashionable opera Carmen, a piece able to a number of reinventions, is popping up in two UK regional productions. Northern Eire Opera has introduced forged and creatives for its first-ever manufacturing of Carmen which debuts at Belfast’s Grand Opera Home on 12 September 2026. Earlier than then, Devon Opera current Carmen on the Northcott Theatre in Exeter on 24 July.
Northern Eire Opera’s manufacturing of Carmen is directed by the corporate’s creative director, Cameron Menzies [read my 2023 interview with him], with Greg Arrowsmith as musical director (he was the musical director for the corporate’s manufacturing of Sondheim’s Follies final yr). The manufacturing could be very a lot a reinvention with Arrowsmith creating preparations for an on-stage instrumental quintet who will carry out in partnership with the orchestra within the pit.
Don Jose and Carmen are performed by American friends, Noah Stewart who is not any stranger to those shores and Ruby Dibble, Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competitors nationwide finalist. Native expertise consists of soprano Mary McCabe as Micaëla, mezzo-soprano Jenny Bourke as Mercédès and soprano Petra Wells as Frasquita.
Additional particulars from the Grand Opera Home web site.
Based as New Devon Opera in 2004 with an novice refrain, Devon Opera now produces full skilled performances within the unique language. The corporate’s manufacturing of Carmen is directed by Anna Gregory, with Pavel Timofeyeski as music director. Don Jose and Carmen are performed by Matthew Curtis and Emma Roberts. Curtis was Lensky in HGO’s current manufacturing of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and Roberts was awarded the 2nd prize for Bampton 2025 Younger Singers Competitors.
Additional particulars from Devon Opera’s web site.
