Following a triumphant Sydney season, The Australian Ballet is set to bring Johan Inger's electrifying Carmen to Melbourne and Canberra in 2025. This award-winning production offers a contemporary and emotionally charged take on the classic tale of obsession, betrayal, and tragic love.
Inspired by Prosper Mérimée's 1845 novella and Georges Bizet's iconic opera, Inger's Carmen delves into the elemental themes of the story, focusing on the descent of guard Don José into madness as his obsession with the enigmatic Carmen consumes him. The production captures the raw passion and drama of the original narrative through a modern lens.
Melbourne audiences can experience Carmen at the Regent Theatre from March 7-18, accompanied by Orchestra Victoria's rendition of Bizet's famous score. The production then moves to Canberra, where it will be performed at the Canberra Theatre Centre from June 20-25 with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
"Johan Inger's Carmen brings a fresh perspective to this iconic story, set to the music we all know and love," says David Hallberg, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet. "It's a powerful tale of passion, betrayal, and obsession that draws audiences into Carmen's world." Hallberg also praised the production's gritty and raw vision, confronting cycles of domestic violence and challenging traditional masculinity, noting the dancers' remarkable versatility and emotional depth in performing this contemporary masterpiece.
Inger's first full-length ballet, Carmen, originally commissioned by the Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid, won the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse in 2016. His striking production sets the story in a contemporary context, stripping it back to its core themes. The seductive title role is a demanding one, requiring both technical brilliance and exceptional acting ability.
"When crafting this ballet, I wanted to infuse the classical narrative with a contemporary spirit, allowing the audiences of today to experience Carmen in a way that feels both timeless and relevant," says choreographer Johan Inger. He added that Carmen's intensity and complexity make it an ideal subject for artistic exploration, and expressed his delight in collaborating with David Hallberg and The Australian Ballet dancers.
Inger's background includes training in Sweden and Canada, followed by a 12-year dancing career with Nederlands Dans Theater, where he later served as Associate Choreographer.
This contemporary adaptation of Carmen distinguishes itself through athletic choreography and a minimalist set design by Curt Allen Wilmer and Leticia Gañan. The set features three-sided prisms that shift and reconfigure, creating concrete, textured, and mirrored surfaces, while Tom Visser's lighting design enhances the emotional turmoil of the characters. David Delfín's costumes update the 19th-century story for a modern audience, with contemporary twists on classic elements.
This thrilling work, through the artistry of contemporary dance, honours Mérimée's literary legacy and marks an exciting addition to The Australian Ballet's 2025 season. Tickets are on sale now.
You can read the review of the 2024 Sydney season here.