CARMEN

This performance will be a spectacular inauguration of the XXXIst Bydgoszcz Opera Festival. For the first time in Poland, Carmen choreographed by Johan Inger will be performed by the Ballet of Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz. Johan Inger brings Bizet’s famous opera into the fascinating world of dance, offering a fresh perspective on the story of dangerous passion. This is Carmen like you have never seen before! This Polish premiere will take place on April 26th on the stage of Opera Nova.

Carmen, with its passionate drama based on Prosper Mérimée’s novella and the music of one of the most famous operas, continues to ignite emotions to this day. To take on the challenge of reinterpreting a legend so deeply rooted in Spanish culture, Johan Inger chose to present his heroine through the eyes of a child.

“This child could be any of us, experiencing violence that, even if brief, leaves a lasting negative impact on our lives and our ability to form relationships with others,”  Johan Inger explained in an interview.

Johan Inger’s fresh take on the classic tale of seduction and obsession transports Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera into the modern world, presenting a breathtaking ballet spectacle. Inger’s choreography blends contemporary movement with classical technique, creating an exceptionally powerful effect.

In a universal stage setting, nine large movable mirrors create the framework for the action, transporting us from a bustling city square into the restless mind of Don José. A sense of dread and ominous tension lingers over the stage, enhanced by additional electronic music composed by Marc Alvarez, which complements Bizet and Shchedrin’s classical score, performed live by the Orchestra of Opera Nova.

Johan Inger created his original ballet Carmen in 2015 for Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND - Madrid). In 2016, he received the prestigious Benois de la Danse award for its choreography. In 2018, the Swedish choreographer’s Carmen won the Venice TV Award in the Performing Arts category. The performance, recorded at Théâtre de la Coursive in La Rochelle, is broadcast on Mezzo TV.

Since its world premiere with CND in Madrid, Carmen has been performed on the world’s biggest stages. In 2024 alone, this ballet production with Johan Inger’s original choreography premiered in Greece (Greek National Opera and Ballet), the United Kingdom (English National Ballet), and Australia (The Australian Ballet). Soon, Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz will join the list of companies staging Carmen.

At the end of 2024, Johan Inger met with the Ballet of Opera Nova, openly expressing his admiration for the dancers. Currently, the Ballet of Opera Nova is preparing for the Polish premiere of Carmen under the professional guidance of the choreographer’s assistants, Tobi Mallitt and Yoko Taira.

Biography
 

Johan Inger – a distinguished Swedish choreographer, born in 1967 in Stockholm. He graduated from the Royal Swedish Ballet School and the National Ballet School in Canada. From 1985 to 1990, he danced with the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm, spending his final year as a soloist. Fascinated by the work of Jiří Kylián, Inger was convinced that the next step in his dance career should be joining Nederlands Dans Theater. In 1990, he became a member of NDT 1 and remained a prominent dancer in the company until 2002. In 1995, Inger debuted as a choreographer, creating his first work, Mellantid, for NDT 2.

Since his debut, Inger has created numerous works for Nederlands Dans Theater, including Sammanfall, Couple of Moments, Round Corners, Walking Mad, and Out of Breath. In October 2001, he received the Lucas Hoving Production Award for his ballets Dream Play and Walking Mad.

In 2003, Inger became the artistic director of Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm, where he choreographed various productions for the company. In 2008, he stepped down from his role as artistic director to focus entirely on choreography. From 2009 to 2016, he served as an associate choreographer at Nederlands Dans Theater, regularly creating works for both NDT 1 and NDT 2 while continuing collaborations with other companies.

Between 2016 and 2023, Inger staged his own versions of several productions, including Sleeping Beauty, Carmen, Peer Gynt, Don Juan, and Swan Lake. In 2016, he was awarded the Benois de la Danse for Carmen (CND – Madrid) and One on One (NDT 2), as well as the Danza & Danza Prize for Bliss and Don Juan (2020), recognized as the best Italian production (Aterballetto).

Since the 2022/23 season, Johan Inger has been the artistic director of Take Off Dance, a training program for dancers aged 18 to 24, based in Seville, Spain.