Tonight at the McCallum Theatre, saxophone great Branford Marsalis lit up the stage in three of five pieces, with the standout being Carmen Jazz Suite on Themes by Bizet, an 18-minute reimagining of Bizet’s Carmen by composer Courtney Bryan. Commissioned by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the piece recasts the opera from Carmen’s point of view, celebrating her love, freedom, and fearlessness—ending not in tragedy, but in triumph. Marsalis brought it all to life with a stunning blend of jazz and classical, delivering a performance that was both soulful and bold.