Educated at the Juilliard School in New York and subsequently in California under the legendary soprano Marilyn Horne, Capalbo now graces the world’s grandest opera stages – from London to Stockholm to Vienna, and this evening in Tivoli Gardens.

The evening will showcase highlights from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. These meticulously chosen excerpts will be deftly woven together by the renowned host and music communicator, Mathias Hammer, who will narrate the compelling story of Carmen’s destiny. On stage, Leonardo Capalbo will take on the role of the enamoured Don José, alongside Romanian mezzo-soprano Ramona Zaharia as Carmen and Mongolian baritone Ariun Ganbaatar as the bullfighter Escamillo. They will be joined by two talented Norwegian singers, mezzo-soprano Åsne Sandegren and soprano Annika Beinnes, portraying Mercedes and Frasquita respectively, complemented by the Odense Chamber Choir.

With these five singers, the opera’s tragic drama of jealousy unfolds, centered around the beautiful, fiery Carmen. Today, Carmen would be seen as a modern woman – free-spirited, vivacious, and unwilling to be confined to just one man. This independence proves challenging for the men in her life, ultimately leading to a tragic end. Yet before reaching its sombre conclusion, Bizet’s intense opera delivers tender and spirited melodies, rich with a southern flair and heart-wrenching arias. Carmen is deservedly one of the world’s most performed operas, captivating audiences from the very first note.

The concert is presented in collaboration with the Copenhagen Opera Festival and is also part of both Thursday Classical and the Stellar Moments Festival. 

The Stellar Moments Festival is supported by Louis-Hansens Fond and Summer Classical is supported by Augustinus Fonden.

Photo: Leonardo Capalbo. Credit: Adam Ulrich.