MET Opera Encore: Carmen12A

When Sir Richard Eyre’s high-energy production of Bizet’s ever-popular Carmen had its Met premiere in 2009, it starred Roberto Alagna as Don José, the wayward officer whose desperate love for the title Gypsy proves their undoing. The French-Italian tenor reprised his celebrated portrayal during the 2018–19 season, including in this steamy Live in HD transmission that also showcased the alluring mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as Carmen. The sensational cast also included soprano Aleksandra Kurzak as the demure Micaëla and bass Alexander Vinogradov as the swaggering bullfighter Escamillo. Maestro Louis Langrée was on the podium to conduct the opera’s classic score, which features one instantly recognizable melody after another.