Skip to main content
We use cookies, pixels, and other trackers to improve website experience, analyze site traffic, and deliver more relevant advertising. Some trackers are offered by third parties, which collect your personal data so they can provide services to us and information about your online activity to others. You can manage these trackers under “Cookie Preferences”. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy.

New York City Opera: Carmen

Fully staged opera with orchestra
September 4, 2025, 7:00pm–9:30pm

New York City Opera returns in September to perform a fully staged version of the beloved Bizet classic, Carmen. Glorious melodies bring to life the story of the tempestuous yet irresistible seductress Carmen and her hapless lover Don Jose in on of the most famous operas of all time.

Performance will have a brief intermission.

Additional media support for this performance is provided by WQXR.

Thursday night's performance will be livestreamed on our website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

About New York City Opera

New York City Opera was famously dubbed “The People's Opera” by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia at its founding in 1943. More than 70 years later, City Opera continues its historic mission to inspire audiences with innovative and theatrically compelling opera, nurture the work of promising American artists, and build new audiences through affordable ticket prices and extensive outreach and education programs.

On the lawn

Bryant Park lends out hundreds of free blankets on a first-come, first-served basis, or bring your own cotton or fleece blanket. To protect the lawn, please do not sit on waterproof materials such as plastic tarps, yoga mats, or inflatable chairs. 

Take a seat in one of the pre-set chairs on the lawn or grab a chair from the gravel. You can use a chair anywhere in the park except for the center lawn "blanket zone". 

Bring your own picnic or purchase food and drinks from tents on the east side of the lawn. Attendees can enjoy cuisine from the five boroughs with a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors curated by Hester Street Fair.

Stout NYC also offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn and other light bites as well as a selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.

Visit the Bryant Park Shop tent for exclusive Picnic Performances merchandise and more!

Find a parachute, hula hoops, and more fun on the east side of the lawn at select events. 

Dogs are welcome on the gravel and bluestone, but not on the lawn.

Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc on Twitter and Instagram for day-of event updates. You can also check the lawn status on the bryantpark.org homepage.

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America is a free outdoor festival that welcomes all New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture. The series provides a platform for extraordinary artists and serves as a vital outdoor venue for a wide array of New York’s cultural institutions.