OPERA lovers are in for a treat in Crediton in February.

Exeter Opera Group will present Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen at Crediton Arts Centre from 7.30pm on Saturday, February 28.

It will be performed in French, with piano accompaniment.

The opera was first performed in Paris on March 3, 1875, where its breaking of conventions shocked and scandalised its first audiences.

Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, unaware that the work would achieve international acclaim within the following 10 years.

The cast includes Carman (Iryana Ilnytska), Don Jose (Robert Felstead), Escamillo (Stephen Moseley), Zuniga (Nick Young), Morales (Ian Spackman), El Rememdado (John Burgoyne), El Dancairo (Lee Andreae), Micaela (Rachel Phillips), Frasquita (Clare Northcott), Mercedes (Rachel Phillips).

Directors are Iryna Ilnyska and Nick Lawrence, Music Director is Stephen Moseley with Richard Lucas and Tim Laurence-Othen on piano, Suzanne De Lozey on flute and Harry Stanwell on trumpet.

Exeter Opera Group was founded in 2024. It has performed three operas (H. Purcell’s ‘Dido & Aeneas’, C.W. Gluck’s ‘Orfeo ed Euridice’ and G. Bizet’s ‘Carmen’).

Group members are looking forward to their work on G. Rossini’s opera ‘La Cenerentola’ and W.A. Mozart’s opera ‘Cosi fan tutte’ in 2026.

The group will also have four further performances of ‘Carmen’ at Teignmouth Music Festival – March 7, Powderham Castle Courtyard – June 5, the Beehive – June 6, Cullompton Music Festival – July 16.

Exeter Opera Group have also performed dozens of concerts with different topics, among them are ‘Queens in opera’, ‘Timeless lullabies’, ‘Aspects of Love’, ‘Viva, Verdi!’, ‘Fairy tales in opera and piano music’ (a special project designed for children), ‘Music by Rossini and Mozart’, 'Piano & Voice Through the Ages’, ‘Love & Remedy’ and many more.

Tickets for Carmen at Crediton Arts Centre, East Street, Crediton EX17 5JQ are priced at £13/£11 via: www.ticketsource.co.uk/creditonartscentre