Royal Opera House Brings 1970s-Inspired Carmen to Ibiza Cinemas on 10 November

November 10, 2026

Opera lovers in Ibiza can experience a live performance from London's Royal Opera House without leaving the island. On Tuesday, 10 November 2026, Multicines Eivissa will screen Georges Bizet's Carmen in a live satellite broadcast from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

The screening begins at 20:00 and forms part of the Royal Opera's 2026/2027 cinema season. The production is directed by Damiano Michieletto and presents a contemporary interpretation of one of the most frequently performed operas in the international repertoire.

Rather than staging the story through traditional Spanish folkloric imagery, Michieletto's production relocates the action to a Mediterranean setting inspired by the 1970s. The result is a darker, more naturalistic interpretation that explores freedom, possessiveness, jealousy and violence.

A 1970s Setting and a Different Perspective on Carmen

The production moves away from the familiar folkloric image often associated with Carmen, placing the characters in a small Mediterranean community during the 1970s.

This setting provides the backdrop for a story shaped by social expectations, personal independence and the destructive consequences of obsession. The production examines the tensions between Carmen's determination to live freely and Don José's increasingly possessive behaviour.

Michieletto's interpretation also draws attention to the psychological dimensions of the characters and the pressures surrounding their decisions.

The production is a co-production with Teatro Real in Madrid and Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Its creative team includes set designer Paolo Fantin, costume designer Carla Teti, lighting designer Alessandro Carletti and dramaturg Elisa Zaninotto.

Ginger Costa-Jackson Leads the International Cast

Mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson takes the title role of Carmen, the independent woman at the centre of Bizet's opera.

American tenor Russell Thomas performs Don José, the soldier whose attraction to Carmen develops into an increasingly destructive obsession.

The principal cast also includes:

  • Ginger Costa-Jackson as Carmen

  • Russell Thomas as Don José

  • Adriana González as Micaëla

  • Alexander Vinogradov as Escamillo

  • Seohyun Go as Frasquita

  • Ellen Pearson as Mercédès

The musical direction is led by conductor Sesto Quatrini, who returns to the Royal Opera after making his debut with the institution in 2023.

The Story Behind Georges Bizet's Carmen

First performed in 1875, Carmen tells the story of a free-spirited woman who refuses to surrender her independence or live according to other people's expectations.

The opera is set in Seville and follows Carmen's relationship with Don José, a soldier who becomes increasingly consumed by his feelings for her. Although Carmen warns him against falling in love, Don José abandons his previous life and becomes progressively more possessive.

When Carmen turns her attention to the celebrated bullfighter Escamillo, Don José's jealousy and desperation intensify, leading the story towards its tragic conclusion.

The opera features some of the most recognisable melodies in classical music, including Carmen's Habanera, L’amour est un oiseau rebelle, the Seguidilla, Don José's Flower Song and Escamillo's famous Toreador Song.

Live from Covent Garden to Multicines Eivissa

The Ibiza screening is part of the Royal Opera's 2026/2027 cinema programme, which allows audiences in participating cinemas to watch performances broadcast live from London.

The production will be sung in French, with Spanish subtitles for the cinema audience. The Royal Opera's cinema information gives an approximate running time of three hours and 35 minutes, including an interval.

For audiences on the island, the broadcast offers an opportunity to experience a major international opera production from a local cinema rather than travelling to London.

Event Details: Carmen at Multicines Eivissa

Production: Carmen by Georges Bizet

Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Screening time: 20:00

Venue: Multicines Eivissa, Aficine

Location: Avenida de Es Cubells s/n, Ibiza

Broadcast: Live satellite transmission from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London

Stage director: Damiano Michieletto

Conductor: Sesto Quatrini

Principal cast: Ginger Costa-Jackson, Russell Thomas, Adriana González and Alexander Vinogradov

Language: French

Subtitles: Spanish

Running time: Approximately 3 hours and 35 minutes, including an interval, according to the Royal Opera's cinema information

The live screening brings the Royal Opera's production of Carmen to Ibiza audiences for one evening, combining Bizet's celebrated score with Michieletto's contemporary interpretation and an international cast.

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