Carmen: Estonian National Opera

About the Event

Popular director Walter Sutcliffe brings one of the world's most famous operas back to Tallinn.

When Carmen was first staged in France (1875), it received negative feedback: its plot was considered immoral and characters vulgar. Bizet shocked the audience by portraying ordinary people on stage – villagers, factory workers, gypsies, smugglers, and by showing the death of the main character on stage. At the premiere, the actors were booed off and the performance was denounced by the critics. But Pyotr Tchaikovsky understood the greatness of this piece and predicted a brilliant future for the opera: “Ten years from now it will be the most popular opera in the world”. And he was right, because Carmen bursts with life, passion, liberty and dynamics.

Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer
Conductors: Risto Joost, Jüri Alperten
Stage Director: Walter Sutcliffe (England)
Designer: Liina Keevallik

Sung in French, with subtitles in Estonian and English.