Carmen — Opera Network of the Marche (Fermo)

Carmen Returns to Fermo

The Teatro dell'Aquila in Fermo, a 18th-century gem with its 124 boxes, hosts one of the most famous and beloved operas of all time: Georges Bizet's Carmen, an opéra-comique in four acts with a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on Prosper Mérimée's novella. The production is a new creation by the Fondazione Rete Lirica delle Marche, the circuit that unites the three major historic theatres of Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, and Fano for their 2025/26 Opera Season.

A Story of Passion and Freedom

Carmen is the unforgettable portrait of a free, sensual, and rebellious woman who pays with her life for her independence. From the Habanera to the Toreador Song, the opera is a succession of pieces that have entered the collective imagination, capable of thrilling both the experienced opera-goer and those approaching opera for the first time. In Fermo, the staging is by director and set designer Filippo Tonon, with costumes by Tonon and Carla Galleri, and lighting by Fiammetta Baldiserri.

Conducting and Performers

On the podium is conductor Riccardo Bisatti, leading the G. Rossini Symphony Orchestra, the Coro del Teatro della Fortuna (choir master Mirca Rosciani), and the Coro di voci bianche Incanto (children's choir master Francesco Santini). The title role is performed by mezzo-soprano Teresa Iervolino, alongside Riccardo Della Sciucca (Don José), Valentina Mastrangelo (Micaëla), and Simone Alberghini (Escamillo).

The Opera Network of the Marche

The Fondazione Rete Lirica delle Marche is a virtuous model that has for years enabled the theatres of Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, and Fano to share high-level productions, optimizing resources and bringing grand opera to three cities in the Piceno region and the Province of Fermo. Carmen is one of the two titles of the season, alongside Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

An Evening of Great Theatre in the Heart of Fermo

Attending an opera at the Teatro dell'Aquila means experiencing opera in its most authentic setting: an Italian-style theatre in the historic center of Fermo, a city of art in the Marche region. In addition to the main performance, the Foundation offers a preview dedicated to young people and an in-depth discussion to explore the opera, providing all the keys to understanding it before the show.