Richard Eyre’s beloved production of Bizet’s masterpiece returns to theaters for a special encore this season, led by mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča as the title character and tenor Roberto Alagna as Don José in the iconic 2010 Met performance—a fan favorite of The Met: Live in HD series. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

World premiere: Opéra-Comique, Paris, 1875. Bizet’s masterpiece of the seductress who lives by her own rules has had an impact far beyond the opera house. The opera’s melodic sweep is as irresistible as the title character herself, a force of nature who has become a defining female cultural figure. Carmen was a scandal at its premiere but soon after became a triumphal success and has remained one of the most frequently staged operas in the world.