Miami performances are at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

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Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

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Children must be at least six years old to attend.

Carmen

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Directed by Maria Todaro

My love affair with Carmen is deeply personal. My mother made history as the youngest performer of Carmen, gracing the stage at the prestigious Monnaie of Brussels at just 21. This role, being French, became a cornerstone of my professional singing career. To me, Carmen offers a powerful opportunity to celebrate strong women, share an inspiring story, and present world history that can provide food for thought and empower audiences.

In Mérimée’s original story, Carmen is portrayed as a young, strong, and capricious woman who wields incredible power over men. The tale is told through the eyes of Don José, who is about to be executed, and Mérimée himself, who follows José. Bizet’s librettists, Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, distilled the essence of powerful femininity and sensuality, along with the tragic consequences of a woman seeking freedom, into a lean, concise opera where every line is indispensable.

In my adaptation, Carmen and her female companions pursue not only personal freedom and emancipation but also the liberation of their country from Franco’s dictatorship. Their bodies become weapons of defiance and resistance, a tactic often employed during times of oppression and war.

Given Miami’s rich cultural heritage, I considered setting the story in Cuba under Castro. However, this would have required altering too much of the libretto, which distinctly references Spain—a liberty I could not take without feeling too arrogant. Nevertheless, the themes of freedom, identity, and reclaiming what has been lost will resonate with our Cuban audience and anyone who has experienced dictatorship.

This production offers an opportunity to portray an empowered woman and depict a historical vignette under Franco’s pseudo-fascist regime. Reflecting on history helps us better understand our present. The women in this opera, including Lillas Pastia (reimagined here as a woman who lost an eye in combat), are incredibly courageous. Their goal is not mere lust, but the liberation of Spain—and, by extension, themselves. These characters have substantial depth, like Frasquita, initially seen as frivolous but revealed as the resistance’s head ballistic expert, leading the men with her expertise and bravery. Lillas Pastia risks her life by providing a safe haven for freedom fighters, and Michaela, often underestimated, shows great strength and determination.

These women fight against oppression, echoing the struggles of Spanish women who only gained full equality under the 1978 Spanish Constitution. During Franco’s regime, traditional Catholic gender roles were imposed, limiting women’s opportunities. Some women in the Communist Party supported armed resistance, while others faced imprisonment. Many Republican women went into exile, working to support others in similar positions.

The toxic relationship between Carmen and Don José mirrors the essence of the Spanish Civil War. The opera also highlights the egalitarian spirit within the resistance, where men respect women. Escamillo, akin to a Schindler’s List character, uses his fame to aid the resistance, making him Carmen’s true love. They share the same values and constantly navigate danger together. As a little surprise to the audience, Hemingway is present here and a friend of Escamillo.

Acts 1, 2, and 3 are set before April 1937, when Franco assumed leadership of the party and became Caudillo, leading a crusade against the secular forces of the Second Republic. Act 4 depicts a Spain under Franco’s rule, where propaganda efforts sought to reclaim elements of Spain’s past and where motherhood would become the primary social function, affecting the behavior of our female protagonists.

Presenting strong, brave women and depicting relevant history is a key aspect of this work. Opera tells stories of human nature, our joys, and struggles. This production also offers a precise psychological exploration of relationships, their complexities, and challenges.

The final duet between Carmen and Don José exemplifies this, as two lovers reflect on their past, how life has changed them, and how one has moved on while the other hasn’t. The music beautifully captures this transition from empathy to a heated argument, resurfacing past grievances. It portrays the torment of a love that has ended for one and the burden for the one who has moved on.

Carmen remains incredibly relevant today, vibrant, and in harmony with our Miami community and its origins. It is a powerful, lean opera that transcends time because it is deeply rooted in our human nature.

Sung in French with English and Spanish projected translations