Bizet's famous opera Carmen was staged in Hong Kong on Thursday night as the most important part of the ongoing "le French May" cultural festival.

All tickets to the four performances starting from Thursday have already been sold out.

This production featured costumes and stage sets from Toulouse Theater du Capitol in France under French stage director Nicolas Joel and conducted by the highly acclaimed Chinese conductor Yu Long from the China Philharmonic and Guangzhou symphony orchestras.

During the first performance, the role of Carmen was performed by world famous French mezzzo-soprano Annie Vavrille, world renowned Hong Kong tenor Warren Mok played the role of Don Jose, best acclaimed Chinese baritone Liao Chang Yong played the role of Escamillo.

The Opera Hong Kong Chorus and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra joined the cast.

The first performance was highly confirmed by the audience by warm applause.

The performance was sung in the original French, with English and Chinese subtitles.

Carmen is reputed to be the most famous opera in the world and is certainly one of the best loved of all operas.

Jointly organized by the Consulate General of France and Alliance Franchise for fourteen years, Le French May is now the biggest French arts festival in the Asia-Pacific region, and has grown into one of the most important cultural events in Hong Kong. 

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2006)