Richard Eyre’s hit production stars Elīna Garanča as the seductive gypsy of the title, opposite Roberto Alagna as the obsessed Don José. Carmen “is about sex, violence, and racism—and its corollary: freedom,” the director says about Bizet’s drama. “It is one of the inalienably great works of art. It’s sexy, in every sense. And I think it should be shocking.” Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Production: Richard Eyre; Barbara Frittoli, Elīna Garanča, Roberto Alagna, Mariusz Kwiecien
Original transmission date: Saturday, January 16, 2010
Runtime: 3 hours