Work: Carmen (Opéra-comique in four acts) – Georges Bizet
Libretto: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, after Prosper Mérimée’s novella Carmen
Venue: Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg Festival
Conductor: Teodor Currentzis
Production: Gabriela Carrizo (Peeping Tom)
Cast: Asmik Grigorian (Carmen), Jonathan Tetelman (Don José), Kristina Mkhitaryan (Micaëla), Davide Luciano (Escamillo), Iveta Simonyan (Frasquita), Anita Monserrat (Mercédès), Matthias Winckhler (Zuniga), Liviu Holender (Moralès), Michael Arivony (Le Dancaïre), Mingjie Lei (Le Remendado)
Ensembles: Utopia Orchestra, Utopia Choir, Bachchor Salzburg
Platform: Stage+
Streaming: Live on 9 August 2026, followed by a scheduled Re-Live on 10 September 2026
Disclaimer
This stream is available exclusively on Stage+ and requires a paid subscription. Streaming schedule, on-demand availability and territorial restrictions are subject to change without notice. Please check the platform for the latest information.
One of the most anticipated productions of the 2026 Salzburg Festival will be streamed on Stage+, bringing together an exceptional artistic team led by conductor Teodor Currentzis and director-choreographer Gabriela Carrizo.
The production stars Asmik Grigorian in the title role opposite Jonathan Tetelman as Don José, with Kristina Mkhitaryan as Micaëla and Davide Luciano as Escamillo. Currentzis conducts his Utopia Orchestra and Utopia Choir alongside the Bachchor Salzburg.
Rather than presenting Carmen as a conventional tale of seduction and jealousy, Carrizo approaches Bizet’s masterpiece as a psychological exploration of its protagonists. Drawing on the physical theatre language that has defined her work with Peeping Tom, she examines the forces that shape Carmen’s fierce independence and Don José’s destructive obsession, while also highlighting the influence of family, social expectations and group dynamics on their tragic relationship.
Premiered at Paris’s Opéra-Comique in 1875, Carmen remains one of the most frequently performed operas in the repertory. Its themes of freedom, identity, desire and violence continue to inspire new interpretations, and this Salzburg Festival production places those questions at the centre of the drama.
The performance will be broadcast live on 9 August, followed by a scheduled Re-Live presentation on 10 September. An on-demand release is expected to follow as part of the Stage+ catalogue, although no date has yet been announced.
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