Gypsy heart: French opera singers Sophie Leleu (left) and Olivier Trommenschlager will star on the stage in the lead roles of Carmen and Don Jose. — Photos courtesy of HBSO

HCM CITY (VNS)— Leading artists of the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) and France's La Fabrique Opera will perform the popular French opera Carmen on Sunday and next Monday at the HCM City Opera House.

Carmen is one of the most frequently performed operas in the classical canon.

The opera by late composer Georges Bizet was scripted by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy based on the novel of the same name by Prosper Merimee.

The opera, set in southern Spain, tells the story of the downfall of Don Jose, a naive soldier who is seduced by the charm of the fiery gypsy, Carmen.

French conductor Patrick Souillot and Vietnamese conductor Tran Nhat Minh will head the performances.

Two talented French opera singers, Sophie Leleu (Carmen) and Olivier Trommenschlager (Don Jose), will play the leading roles.

They will be accompanied by HBSO Meritorious Artist Tran Hong Vy (Frasquita), Cho Hae Ryong (Micaela), Pham Duyen Huyen (Micaela), Pham Khanh Ngoc (Frasquita), Nguyen Thu Huong (Mercedes), Vo Nguyen Thanh Tam (Escamillo), Dao Mac (Escamillo), and Phan Huu Trung Kiet (El Remendado), and the HBSO choir and symphony orchestra.

This year also marks the 140th anniversary of the launch of the opera Carmen on stage and the 140th death anniversary of composer Georges Bizet.

Tickets, priced at VND800,000 (US$37), VND650,000, VND550,000, VND400,000 and VND150,000 for students, are available at the venue. — VNS