What is the ballet “Carmen Suite” about?

At the heart of the one-act ballet “Carmen Suite” is the untamed Carmen, who values freedom above all else. Every step she takes turns into a chain of tragic events — both for herself and for those around her.

She captivates the soldier José, pushing him to break his oath and betray his duty. Only a man madly in love could take such a risk.

However, when Carmen soon turns her attention to the proud Toreador, José’s towering hopes are shattered.

“José is a warrior. He lived in a special world where the concept of ‘duty’ stood above everything. He was meant to obey orders, but losing his head to passion, he crosses every boundary. Breaking the soldier’s code, he is dismissed from service and becomes an outcast. In the end, he sacrifices his social status and even loses the only meaning of his life — love. Nothing remains in José except anger born of despair,” says A. Alonso in an interview.

One of the most distinctive elements of the ballet is its symbolic scenography. The stage transforms at times into a circus arena, at times into a bullfighting ring — a metaphorical arena of life where fate’s trials unfold.

On February 21, the one-act ballets “Carmen Suite” and “Twists of Fate” will be presented.