Mezzo-soprano Ahlima Mhamdi is “one of the finest Carmens heard in recent years”, according to Forum Opéra. Having sung the role more than forty times, she was due to sing it again at the Théâtre de l’Odéon in Marseille in March 2025.

After studying drama at the Conservatoire de Châtillon and earning a bachelor’s degree at the Sorbonne Nouvelle, the French-Moroccan mezzo-soprano joined Isabelle Germain and Fabrice Boulanger’s opera class at the CNSMD de Lyon, where she graduated with the highest honours by unanimous decision and the jury’s congratulations. During her training she was admitted to the Nouveau Studio of the Opéra de Lyon and named an ADAMI “Révélation lyrique”. On leaving the conservatoire she joined the Jeune Troupe de Solistes of the Grand Théâtre de Genève (2013–2016), where she sang roles warmly praised by the press, including Fenena (Nabucco), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Preziosilla (La forza del destino), Meg Page (Falstaff) and Martine (Gounod’s Le Médecin malgré lui).

She has sung the title role in Carmen at the Alden Biesen Festival in Belgium and at the Bolshoi Theatre in Minsk, Belarus. In summer 2016 she made her debut at the Chorégies d’Orange as Flora Bervoix (La traviata) alongside Plácido Domingo.

Ahlima has sung Mercédès (Carmen) at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Sanxay opera festival, Smeton (Anna Bolena) at the Opéra Grand Avignon, Maddalena (Rigoletto) at the Grand Théâtre de Tours, Martine (Le Médecin malgré lui) at the Opéra de Rennes, several gala concerts at the Symphony Hall in Osaka, Verdi’s Requiem at the Victoria Hall in Geneva, Flosshilde and Schwertleite (Der Ring) at the Grand Théâtre de Genève and Public Opinion (Orphée aux enfers) at the Opéra de Reims. More recently she sang the title role of Carmen at the Opéra de Massy and drew great attention in the title role of Carmen Al Andalus, on tour with the company Opéra Éclaté.

Last season Ahlima Mhamdi made three much-noticed role debuts: Mother Marie of the Incarnation in Dialogues des Carmélites at the Opéra de Massy, and Dorabella and the title role in La Belle Hélène on tour with Opéra Éclaté.

Next season she will make three more role debuts: Gertrude (Hamlet) at the Opéra de Massy under Hervé Niquet, the Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte) at the Opéra de Nice and La Périchole with TLA Productions. She will also continue touring with Opéra Éclaté as La Belle Hélène (Opéra de Massy, Clermont-Ferrand…), in Carmen Al Andalus (Opéra de Marseille…) and as Dorabella (Pau…).