Angel Corella's Carmen Premieres Next Month

Angel Corella’s Carmen Premieres Next Month

In an exhilarating kickoff to its 60th-anniversary celebration, Philadelphia Ballet is set to dazzle audiences with the world premiere of Artistic Director Angel Corella’s Carmen.

This captivating rendition promises to fuse the worlds of traditional Spanish dance and classical ballet to narrate the gripping tale of Carmen, a powerful, yet tragic heroine.

Drawing inspiration from Georges Bizet’s beloved opera, Corella’s choreography breathes fresh life into the sultry Carmen, transporting the audience into a world where love and tragedy collide.

The ballet unfurls the story of Carmen, a seductive force of nature, and her fateful encounter with the soldier Don José, whose futile attempts to confine her free spirit lead to his inevitable downfall.

“Growing up in Spain, training in flamenco, and really understanding the visceral, emotional reactions that make Carmen such a powerful and tragic love story has allowed me to create a version that is distinct from the ones that have come before. Building this version of Carmen from scratch and being able to closely collaborate with the artists on new choreography and music has been an incredible experience. I’m really excited to welcome audiences back with such a fiery and dramatic performance.”

Angel Corella

Artistic Director of Philadelphia Ballet

The premiere of Carmen not only marks the commencement of the Philadelphia Ballet 2023-2024 season but also heralds a two-year celebration of the Philadelphia Ballet’s 60-year journey.

Angel Corella's Carmen

In a harmonious union of artistic minds, Corella and Music Director Beatrice Jona Affron have joined forces to craft a complete musical score that promises to elevate the Carmen experience to new heights.

This bespoke score is a rich tapestry of sound, thoughtfully blending music from the iconic opera with carefully selected excerpts from Bizet’s repertoire. Not stopping there, it even incorporates the spirited rhythms of traditional flamenco clapping and percussion.

Corella and Affron’s collaboration promises to be a symphonic journey that captivates the senses, transcending the boundaries of traditional ballet. By infusing the production with the iconic strains of Bizet’s opera and the passionate pulse of flamenco, they intend to transport the audience into the very heart of the narrative, allowing them to feel the music as deeply as they witness the dance.

“It’s fitting to begin our 2023/2024 season and the company’s 60th anniversary celebration with a thrilling, all-new production of Carmen. Carmen is a timeless story and Angel’s reimagining of it will undoubtedly win audiences’ hearts with the passion, romance and incredible artistry.” – Shelly Power, The Dr. Carolyn Newsom Executive Director.