San Francisco Opera's 2019 Summer Season opens with director Francesca Zambello's production of "Carmen." The popular French work about a free-spirited woman and her besotted lover stars mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges in her professional role debut as the title heroine and tenor Matthew Polenzani performing Don Jose for the first time in his career. Romanian soprano Anita Hartig makes her Company debut as Michaela and bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen is the bullfighter, Escamillo. James Gaffigan makes his Company opera conducting debut in six performances and Michelle Merrill will take to the podium for the June 20 performance of Bizet's work in her Company debut.