Tune into WRTI on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. to hear Teatro alla Scala’s 2026 production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Myung-Whun Chung conducts the Treble Voice Chorus from La Scala Academy alongside La Scala Orchestra & Chorus in what was praised as “a refined and transparent interpretation, aimed at highlighting the harmonic, timbral, and melodic richness of Bizet’s score” (Bernardo Gaitan, OperaWire). WRTI will carry this recording of Bizet’s canonical opéra comique as a part of the WFMT Opera Series.
Set in Spain, Carmen follows the young soldier Don José who, becoming infatuated with the free-spirited and alluring Carmen, leaves behind his post, mother, and sweetheart. Don José continually vies for the fading love of Carmen, although she remains intent to be free.
This production features mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as the titular Carmen, tenor Vittorio Grigolo as Don José, the smitten soldier, and soprano Natalia Tanasii as Micaëla, the original sweetheart. Bass Giorgi Manoshvili is the bull-rider Escamillo; baritone Pierre Doyen and tenor Loïc Felix are two smugglers, Le Dancaïre and Le Remendado; and mezzo-soprano Marine Chagnon and soprano Sarah Dufresne are Mercédès and Frasquita, two friends of Carmen.
Cast:
Clémentine Margaine as Carmen
Vittorio Grigolo as Don José
Natalia Tanasii as Micaëla
Giorgi Manoshvili as Escamillo
Pierre Doyen as Le Dancaïre
Loïc Felix as Le Remendado
Marine Chagnon as Mercédès
Sarah Dufresne as Frasquita
Myung-Whun Chung conducts the Treble Voice Chorus from La Scala Academy, and La Scala Orchestra & Chorus.