Bizet’s most famous opera Carmen will be screened in 3D across Australia.

A Covent Garden production of George Bizet’s emotional realismo masterpiece, filmed in 3-D by director Julian Napier, will be shown in Australian cinemas from March 5. A pioneer of 3-dimensional filmmaking, Napier is also responsible for the 3-D film of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (2003).

Francesca Zambello’s vibrant production for the Royal Opera House features Manchester-born Christine Rice in the title role, with Bryan Hymel as Don José, Aris Argiris as the toreador Escamillo and Australia’s own Elena Xanthoudakis as Frasquita.

With advanced media screenings scheduled for next week, Carmen in 3D will then appear in select Hoyts, Event, Village, Greater Union and independent cinemas. See here for more details.

Here’s hoping the 3-D Carmen will be more of a success than the last Carmen movie, a so-called hip-hopera, starring singer Beyoncé Knowles.