The Royal Academy's Carmen has too many what-if moments

Fionn Ó hAlmhain (Zuniga) and Zixin Tang (Carmen)

Konstantinos Akritides (Don José) and Zixin Tang (Carmen)

Grace Hope-Gill (Micaëla)

By Dominic Lowe, 20 November 2025

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Royal Academy of Music: Susie Sainsbury Theatre, London on 18 November 2025

Bizet, Carmen

Royal Academy Opera

Christopher White, Conductor

Harry Fehr, Director

Yannis Thavoris, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Jake Wiltshire, Lighting Designer

Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra

Royal Academy of Music Chorus

Matt Powell, Video

Zixin Tang, Carmen

Konstantinos Akritides, Don José

Grace Hope-Gill, Micaëla

Tom Butler, Escamillo

Fionn Ó hAlmhain, Zuniga

Caroline Blair, Frasquita

Alexandria Moon, Mercédès

Yihui Wang, Le Remendado

Oliver Heuzenroeder, Le Dancaïre

Edward Daly, Moralès

Victoria Newlyn, Movement director

Royal Academy Opera stages a magical Zauberflöte

Mark Valencia, 18th March

A lyrical yet zesty account of Mozart's' adorable score, in a production that is on the nose and off the wall.

****1

A dystopian Hansel und Gretel at the RAM

Mark Valencia, 20th November

Jack Furness serves up an unappetising mess of Humperdinck's delicious masterpiece for Royal Academy Opera.

***11

Keeping it surreal: Martinů double-bill at the Royal Academy of Music

Dominic Lowe, 8th May

With typical spirit, the students at the Royal Academy of Music did an excellent job in bringing Martinů’s Comedy on the Bridge and Alexandre bis to life – two lesser-known pre-war surrealist gems.

***11

Unreal city: The Rake's Progress at the Royal Academy of Music

Benjamin Poore, 22nd November

Frederic Wake-Walker's realisation of the Hogarth-inspired opera is visually bracing and assuredly sung.

****1

Emotion and mayhem: a golden double bill from Royal Academy Opera

Stephen Pritchard, 18th March

Students triumph in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta and Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges.

****1

By Jove! A terrific Semele at the Royal Academy of Music

Matthew Rye, 14th November

Royal Academy Opera maintains its usual high standards in a production of Handel’s operatic oratorio, a showcase for the singers of the future.

****1

More reviews...

Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Sliding doors moments: the Royal Academy's Carmen has too many what-ifs