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Ankara State Opera and Ballet is set to roll out a new production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen, one of the most widely performed works in the global opera repertoire, reconnecting audiences with a story that has resonated since its world premiere in Paris in 1875.
The four-act opera will make its Ankara premiere on Feb. 7 at the Opera Stage, marking the company’s first staging of Carmen since the 2013–2014 season.
Composed by French composer Georges Bizet, Carmen is best known internationally for arias such as “Habanera” and the “Toreador Song,” which remain cornerstones of opera houses from Europe to North America. Ankara State Opera and Ballet is presenting the work with an approach that stays rooted in its original period while being opened up through movement and stage rhythm designed to draw in contemporary audiences.
Spanish director, dancer and choreographer Carlos Vilan, who is leading the production, said the opera stood out for both its music and the strength of its characters. He described Carmen as a woman who chooses how to live and whom to love, noting that this independence sets her apart from many female figures in classical opera. Vilan also pointed out that the balance between music, drama and dance makes Carmen particularly striking on stage.
Vilan, who first staged Carmen in Madrid in 2005 and has returned to the work many times since, explained that his Ankara production reflects years of accumulated experience. Identifying himself primarily as a choreographer and dancer, he emphasized that movement plays a central role in this version.
He said the production had been built up almost like a film, with strong theatrical acting, integrated choreography and singers who also take part in the dance language of the piece. While the historical setting has been kept intact, some movement elements have been updated to bring the story closer to present-day viewers without breaking away from the classical foundation.
Mezzo-soprano Ferda Yetiser, who sings the title role, said she had taken on Carmen more than a decade ago and was returning to the character with the same enthusiasm. She described Carmen as a woman who faces hardship yet refuses to be crushed by it, highlighting the opera’s focus on freedom and self-determination.
Yetiser underlined that each act unfolds with its own emotional weight, carried by well-known melodies and dramatic contrasts. She said Carmen’s defiant stance and refusal to submit made the role both challenging and deeply rewarding to perform.
Following its premiere on Feb. 7, Carmen will be staged again on Feb. 9, 14, 18, 23 and 28 at the Opera Stage in Ankara.
Set in Seville, Spain, during the 1830s, the opera follows Carmen, a young Romani woman working in a tobacco factory, whose relationship with soldier Don Jose pulls him away from his orderly life.
As Carmen’s feelings fade and she turns her attention elsewhere, Don Jose’s obsession deepens, driving the story toward its tragic conclusion.
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