Anna Caterina Antonacci (as Carmen) and Jonas Kaufmannn (as Don Jose) in the Royal Opera's production "Carmen". Composer: Georges Bizet. (Photo by robbie jack/Corbis via Getty Images)

The incarnation of vice

Sex, gypsies, smoking, smugglers, sex, bullfighting, murder, and did we mention…sex?

Critical Mash
Critical Mash

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Carmen! Sex, gypsies, smoking, smugglers, sex, bullfighting, murder, and did we mention…sex? Just how did this outrageous French romp become the most popular and influential opera of the late 19th century? Regular hosts Robert Thicknesse and Yehuda Shapiro return for another scandalous episode of Critical Mash.

This week they are joined by Sian Edwards, celebrated conductor, and former Music Director at the English National Opera in the 90s, and Anna Picard, Opera critic and writer for The TLS and Research and Repertoire Consultant for Opera Holland Park. They will discuss the history of Carmen, and two of the latest raucous outbreaks of the opera at Covent Garden and the Glyndebourne Festival.

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