Carmen

Hot passion and seduction aren’t necessarily the first things that come to mind when you think of northern Russia, but fortunately the expert performers of the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre are more than convincing in Carmen, a ballet set in balmy Seville. One of the premiere companies in its ballet-crazed homeland, the ensemble is known in particular for its technical prowess and mastery of the classical ballet form. Carmen pairs the company with the flamboyant trills of Bizet’s electric score, a combination that should have temperatures rising. The famed tale of the gypsy seductress and the trail of ruin she leaves in her wake when she goes after the soldier Don José, Carmen is a sensual tragedy. 8 p.m. today and tomorrow. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. For information, call 713-227-4772 or visit www.spahouston.org. $22 to $62.
Fri., Feb. 1, 8 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 2, 8 p.m., 2008