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As soccer fans from around the world converge on North Texas for FIFA World Cup 2026, passion, drama and soccer are on stage in Opera Arlington’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, playing June 5-6 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington.
Opera Arlington’s production is reimagined, setting the beloved opera in 1920s Spain during the euphoric aftermath of the Spanish national soccer team’s historic Olympic medal victory. There is one significant character change: Escamillo, originally a bullfighter, is dashing star footballer who scored the winning goal. The charming athlete collides with Carmen, a free-spirited and bold itinerant Romani worker, and her lover, the rigid and tradition-bound soldier Don José.
The show features Mansfield Philharmonic, conducted by Dr. Eldred Marshall. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
Eliza Escalante, Opera Arlington’s General Director and director of this production, talks about what opera and soccer have in common, incorporating soccer into opera, and why it works.
NBC DFW: What does soccer have in common with opera?
Eliza Escalante (EE): Opera has more in common with soccer than the average person may think. Although singers and soccer players have different goals, they both follow a rigorous training process that is physically and emotionally demanding in order to perform in a high stakes environment for the entertainment of others. They rely on years of training and technique to develop their bodies into the perfect instrument for each performance, and they work with a team of other highly skilled and trained individuals to reach their goal. Opera singers sing without the use of microphones and rely solely on their body to amplify and project their voice over an orchestra which requires an intimate knowledge of their body and it’s capabilities. They spend months preparing for each performance and often times only get to sing a role they learned a few times before the move on to the next job or opportunity.
Outside of the athleticism of both performing opera and playing soccer, I find that soccer and opera also share a love of drama and truly passionate fan bases. We are all familiar with red card reactions on the field and rival fan altercations in the stands at soccer matches. While opera attendees are a little less physical in their confrontations, they are no less passionate about their favorite composer, singer, or conductor. And who is better equipped to understand a divo (or diva) on the field arguing with the referee than a real life opera appreciator? At the end of the day, I find that soccer lovers and opera devotees have more in common than in differences.
NBC DFW: Has it been difficult to incorporate the soccer concept into Bizet’s most famous opera? Why does it work?
EE: Surprisingly, it has not been particularly difficult to incorporate soccer into Carmen. In the show, Escamillo the toreador (or bullfighter) is a main player in the drama. Bizet did not stage a real bullfight in the show, thank goodness, but instead builds Escamillo’s character through his fame and personality, allowing me to play with his vocation. It felt like a fairly natural swap to take the charismatic and daring bullfighter and turn him into star athlete of another sport with superstar qualities. This works because at the end of the day, it’s not Escamillo’s vocation that attracts Carmen, but his confidence and fame. Additionally, I think it will play particularly well to the audiences in DFW whose entertainment culture is steeped in team sports as opposed to the Spanish tradition of bullfighting. Hopefully, audiences will be able to draw parallels between Escamillo’s fame in the opera and the fame of their own favorite star athlete and tap into that well of enthusiasm and camaraderie that brings true sport fans together.
Lauren Salazar will play Carmen on Saturday night while Kaswanna Kanyinda will play the role on Friday night.
NBC DFW: What will soccer fans find to love about Carmen?
EE: Carmen is a great introductory opera, and our soccer theme makes it a great first show for soccer fans in particular. Since we perform at Trinity UMC in Arlington, our audiences get an intimate and communal experience that really lets the excitement of the show collectively build, and we encourage audience engagement with each other and the show itself. I find it’s more similar to a stadium feel than a traditional concert hall experience, both of which have merits. Then there is the simmering tension between Carmen and her lovers, a band of wily smugglers, that overwhelming ego of Escamillo, a knife fight, and it’s all set to the iconic music of Bizet. Finally, the show is brought to life by a team of artists: the Mansfield Philharmonic, a fabulous volunteer chorus, and a double casting of star quality principals from right here in North Texas. Honestly, there is so much to see and experience in an opera production, I would be surprised if even the most dedicated soccer fan didn’t find something love about one of the most iconic operas in the world! We are absolutely thrilled to introduce soccer and sport fans to the excitement of opera with our re-imagining!
NBC DFW: Do you think opera fans will develop a new appreciation for soccer?
EE: I certainly hope so! I love soccer myself and I would love for some operagoers to get excited about the playoffs. It is exhilarating to think that some of the best athletes in the world will be right here is Arlington and Dallas! These games are going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience much like our show and I would hope any operagoer would be excited to attend any number of events celebrating soccer this summer. Plus, they can decide for themselves which player would be a real life Escamillo.
NBC DFW: How has this production made you appreciate Carmen even more?
EE: As a director when I decide to strip away tradition from a historic piece like this it really forces me to listen deeply to the composer and librettist’s intent. I have to be even more aware of each character’s core motivation and how they interact both musically and motivationally. This production in particular has really made me appreciate the musical storytelling of Bizet and his ability to create deeply complex characters. In particular, I’ve learned a lot about Don Jose, Carmen’s spurned lover. Going into the production I had a rather one-dimensional view of him but as I sat longer with the music and worked with our great singers, I realized that he is a much more complex figure than I initially gave him credit for. This production has given me a great opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with each character which is something I will cherish every time I hear or see Carmen in the future.
Learn more: Opera Arlington
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