Cape Town Opera Ignites the Stage with “Carmen” this May

Cape Town Opera is bringing Bizet’s Carmen, one of the world’s most loved operas, to the stage this May in a searing new production. A story of passion, freedom and destructive jealousy, Carmen pulses with some of opera’s most unforgettable music, building inexorably toward its devastating finale. Here’s everything you need to know.

All About the Production

Under the bold directorial vision of Steven Stead, this production is set against the turbulent backdrop of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), intensifying the opera’s themes of power, desire and defiance. At the helm of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Tim Murray drives the score with electrifying momentum, leading a full ensemble of singers, dancers and orchestra in a production of thrilling scale and dramatic force.

Carmen, a fiercely independent factory worker, sets her sights on the soldier Don José and turns his life upside down. After seducing him into helping her escape arrest, José’s career and moral compass unravel, drawing him into the dangerous world of smugglers. But when Carmen’s passion shifts to the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo, José’s obsession spirals into jealousy and despair. Outside the bullring, their story reaches its tragic, inevitable end.

With striking costumes by Maritha Visagie and a powerful set design by Greg King, Cape Town Opera’s Carmen is a visually arresting and musically charged theatrical event not to be missed.

Meet the Cast

Nonhlanhla Yende – Carmen

Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Nonhlanhla Yende began her career in 2007 with the Pro Musica Orchestra. A former Cape Town Opera Studio member and now CTO House Soloist (2024), she has performed leading roles in Aida, Porgy and Bess, Carmen, and Lost in the Stars, and appeared internationally, including at Hamer Hall in Melbourne.

Lukhanyo Moyake – Don José

South African tenor Lukhanyo Moyake is a former Wiener Staatsoper ensemble member and CTO House Soloist (2023). His roles include Alfredo (La traviata), Cavaradossi (Tosca), and Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor). He has performed with English National Opera and major European houses, and is a prizewinner at Neue Stimmen.

Conroy Scott – Escamillo

Bass-baritone Conroy Scott, a UCT-trained former engineer, is a CTO House Soloist (2023). His repertoire includes Don Giovanni, Figaro, Germont, and Sarastro. A multiple Fleur du Cap Award winner, he has also appeared as a bass soloist in major oratorios.

Brittany Smith – Frasquita

CTO House Soloist Brittany Smith has performed leading roles including Violetta (La traviata), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), and Adina (L’elisir d’amore). A Fleur du Cap Award winner and Artes Award recipient, she has also starred in The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady.