Following its UK premiere in July 2024, Acosta Danza announces a UK Tour of Carlos Acosta’s adaptation of Bizet’s famous opera Carmen, 180 years after Prosper Mérimée’s eponymous story was first published.
The tour comes to The Opera House, Manchester from the 22nd – 25th April 2026.
Don José falls in love with Carmen and sacrifices everything to be with her. When Carmen becomes infatuated with the toreador Escamillo, she loses interest in Don José, whose love quickly turns to murderous jealousy.
Acosta’s new version retains the story’s universal and timeless themes in a stripped back setting.
Carlos Acosta said: ‘I am delighted to be touring my production of Carmen in 2026. For this full-length ballet I had the pleasure of being reunited with the original creative team of Tim Hatley and Peter Mumford as well as being joined by Nina Dunn who has augmented the production value of the work by introducing some really amazing visual projections. Bringing all these elements together alongside the memorable score of Shchedrin and Bizet makes for a vibrant and exciting production. I also take great joy and pride in seeing my amazing Acosta Danza dancers flourish as we continue to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the company. ‘
The melodies of Bizet’s Carmen have secured the opera’s hold on the popular imagination – Escamillo’s ‘Toreador Song’, Carmen’s ‘Habanera’, Don José’s ‘Flower Song’ and many passages for orchestra and chorus are among the most widely known pieces of Western classical music.
Carlos Acosta was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1973. After a late but dazzling start in ballet at the age of 9, he became English National Ballet’s youngest ever principal dancer, at 18.
He joined the Royal Ballet in London in 1998, where he became an audience favourite. He was awarded a CBE for his contribution to dance in 2014 and retired from classical ballet two years later.
In 2015 he also founded his company, Acosta Danza, and has been the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet since 2020.