A passionate tale of lust, seduction and betrayal will be played out on cinema screens in Welwyn Hatfied next month.

Bizet’s Carmen can be seen at the Garden City Cinema, at Campus West, in Welwyn Garden City, the Odeon in Hatfield and Hertford Theatre in a live broadcast from the English National Opera.

Probably the most popular opera in the world, Carmen scandalised its earliest audiences with its raw depiction of lust in Seville.

Set during the dying days of Franco’s Spain, Calixto Bieito’s acclaimed revival of this must-see opera has been enjoyed by audiences across Europe.

French composer Georges Bizet’s dazzling score evokes all the sounds and sizzling atmosphere of Spain through some of the opera’s most famous melodies, from Carmen’s seductive ‘Habanera’ to the Toreadors’ stirring parade.

The opera charts the tragic demise of Don José as he falls under the spell of the streetwise Carmen.

Sensational mezzo-soprano Justina Gringyte leads the cast and “oozes sexual allure” in the title role as the sexy seductress.

She appears alongside internationally acclaimed tenor Eric Cutler as José, ENO Harewood artist Eleanor Dennis as Micaëla and Leigh Melrose as the toreador Escamillo.

Returning to the London Coliseum to conduct this stunning production is Sir Richard Armstrong.

Carmen can be seen on Wednesday, July 1, starting at 7.30pm.

The Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar will have an encore screening on Friday, July 3.