Carlos Acosta’s Carmen Comes to Sadler’s Wells

Sadler’s Wells International Associate Company Acosta Danza presents the UK premiere of Carlos Acosta’s Carmen at Sadler’s Wells Theatre from Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 July 2024. 

Carlos Acosta performs in his adaptation of Georges Bizet and Prosper Mérimée’s story. In his new version, the story’s universal and timeless themes are laid bare in a sparse and powerful setting. Don José falls in love with Carmen and sacrifices everything to be with her. When Carmen becomes infatuated with the toreador Escamillo she loses interest in Don José, whose love quickly turns to violent jealousy. 
 
Acosta plays The Bull, a role he created to represent fate and destiny, which he has been keen to perform since choreographing the ballet to mark his retirement from the Royal Ballet in 2015. 
 
Bizet’s Carmen is one of the most powerful operas ever written. Its gorgeous melodies have secured the opera’s hold on the popular imagination – Escamillo’s Toreador Song, Carmen’s Habanera, Don José’s Flower Song and many passages for orchestra and chorus are among the most widely known pieces of Western classical music. Figures as diverse as Marius Petipa, Roland Petit, Alberto Alonso, Mats Ek and Richard Alston have all been drawn to this tale of jealousy and desire.  

Carlos Acosta’s Carmen is the UK premiere of the full-length version  

Acosta Danza is a Sadler’s Wells International Associate Company