Carmen connections: Damiano Michieletto's new production of Carmen for the Royal Opera House brings a renewed focus on relationships and psychology to Bizet's renowned score.

This article focuses on Damiano Michieletto's new production of Bizet's opera *Carmen* at the Royal Opera House, which emphasizes psychological relationships, particularly the influence of Don José's mother, a previously unseen character portrayed as a controlling presence affecting his tragic actions. Mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina stars as Carmen, highlighting the character's independence and her role as a mentor to younger women about love and control. The production is set in a rural Spanish village in the late 1970s with a Wild West atmosphere, aiming to intensify the opera's themes of freedom, control, and community tension. Polish tenor Piotr Beczała performs as Don José, with the production running from April to May 2024.