Aigul Akhmetshina leads powerhouse cast in the Met’s new Carmen

Rafael Davila (Don José) and Aigul Akhmetshina (Carmen)

Kyle Ketelsen (Escamillo) and ensemble

A scene from Act 2 of Bizet's Carmen

Angel Blue (Micaëla)

By Susan Stempleski, 02 January 2024

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“her smoldering, rich-bodied voice carried effortlessly into the Met’s vast auditorium”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 31 December 2023

Bizet, Carmen

Metropolitan Opera

Daniele Rustioni, Conductor

Carrie Cracknell, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Tom Scutt, Costume Designer

Guy Hoare, Lighting Designer

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

rocafilm, Projection designer

Roland Horvath, Projection designer

Aigul Akhmetshina, Carmen

Rafael Davila, Don José

Kyle Ketelsen, Escamillo

Angel Blue, Micaëla

Sydney Mancasola, Frasquita

Briana Hunter, Mercédès

Michael Adams, Le Dancaïre

Benjamin Taylor, Moralès

Wei Wu, Zuniga

Ann Yee, Choreography

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****1

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*****

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***11

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*****

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*****

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Susan Stempleski

Based in New York City, Susan is a retired specialist in second and foreign language teaching and the author/editor of several professional books for language teachers and many widely used textbooks for English language learners around the world. An avid concertgoer, she spends her time attending operas and other classical music events in New York and Paris. Since 2002, she has regularly published reviews on Classical Source. A keen Francophile, she has a particularly strong interest in French music, literature and film.

Aigul Akhmetshina leads powerhouse cast in the Met’s contemporary new Carmen