The larger-than-life figure of Carmen is almost unimaginable beyond its stereotype. Her famous story, in which passion, betrayal, and murder drive the characters to ruin, was conceived by the French author Prosper Mérimée in 1845 and transformed into a now iconic opera by his compatriot Georges Bizet in 1875. To this day, the figure of Carmen continues to inspire popular culture and, in the collective Western memory, marks the relationship between seductress and freedom fighter. Herbert Fritsch, who spent decades on stage as a berserker of a performance, then became a celebrated theater director, and has also been staging operas with great success for almost 15 years, has created an unprecedented firework display of color with Carmen , one that transcends stereotypes and joyfully competes with the verve of Bizet's music.