"Carmen is about sex, violence, and racism—and its corollary: freedom,” says Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre. “It is one of the inalienably great works of art. It’s sexy, in every sense. And I think it should be shocking.” Elina Garanca sings Carmen for the first time at the Met. Roberto Alagna and Jonas Kaufmann share the role of the obsessed Don José, Barbara Frittoli is Micaëla, and Mariusz Kwiecien is the matador Escamillo. Angela Gheorghiu and Olga Borodina sing Carmen in later performances. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.