Carmen, the most famous of French operas, returns to Teatro Colón under the direction of renowned theater director Calixto Bieito. This version will be presented for the first time on the stage of the main theater as an international co-production.
Starting on Friday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m., Teatro Colón will host the opera Carmen, a four-act work with music by Georges Bizet and libretto by Ludovic Halévy and Henri Meilhac, based on the novel by Prosper Mérimée. The musical direction will be led by Kakhi Solomnishvili, who will conduct the Teatro Colón Stable Orchestra, while the stage direction will be managed by Calixto Bieito. This production is a co-production of Gran Teatre del Liceu, Fondazione Teatro Regio di Torino, Fondazione Teatro Massimo di Palermo, and Fondazione Teatro la Fenice di Venezia.
After 11 years, Carmen returns to Teatro Colón with eight scheduled performances on Friday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, July 13, Tuesday, July 16, Wednesday, July 17, Saturday, July 20, and Tuesday, July 23 also at 8:00 p.m.; and on Sundays, July 14 and 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at www.teatrocolon.org.ar, or in person at the Teatro Colón box office (Tucumán 1171) from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
About Calixto Bieito – Stage Director
He studied literature and art history at the University of Barcelona, stage direction at the Diputación, and performance at the School of Dramatic Art of Tarragona. He directed the Teatre Romea in Barcelona, organized the International Festival of Arts of Castilla y León in Salamanca, and created the Barcelona International Theatre (bit), a forum for projects by artists and theaters. He has directed the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao since 2017. Among his notable productions are Don Giovanni (Hannover) and The Abduction from the Seraglio (Berlin). He has directed works such as L’incoronazione di Poppea, Die Soldaten, Die ersten Menschen, and War and Peace. He was awarded the European Culture Prize by the Kulturstiftung Pro Europa of Basel in 2009. He has received awards in Spain, Ireland, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy. He joined the Spanish Academy of Performing Arts as an honorary member in 2021.
About Kakhi Solomnishvili – Musical Director
He has been the Principal Conductor of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra since 2024, and he is also the Music Director of the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 2017, he was honored with the Tsinandali Music Award. Since 2022, Solomnishvili has been an assistant to Maestro Charles Dutoit and collaborates with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra and Teatro Colón, where he made his debut conducting La carrera del libertino by Igor Stravinsky. He has worked with numerous national and international orchestras. His upcoming engagements include performances with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra, and at the Argerich Festival at Teatro Colón.
Complete Details
Opera: Carmen
Venue: Teatro Colón
Performances: Friday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, July 13, Tuesday, July 16, Wednesday, July 17, Saturday, July 20, and Tuesday, July 23 at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays, July 14 and 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Music: Georges Bizet
Libretto: Ludovic Halévy and Henri Meilhac
Based on: The eponymous novel by Prosper Mérimée
Musical Direction: Kakhi Solomnishvili
Stage Direction: Calixto Bieito
Revival Director: Yves Lenoir
Scenography: Alfons Flores
Costume Design: Mercè Paloma
Lighting Design: Alberto Rodríguez Vega
Orchestra: Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colón
Chorus: Coro Estable del Teatro Colón
Chorus Director: Miguel Martínez
Children’s Chorus: Coro de Niños del Teatro Colón
Children’s Chorus Director: Helena Cánepa
Cast:
– Carmen: Francesca Di Sauro (12, 14, 16, 20) / Maria Luisa Merino Ronda (13, 21) / Florencia Machado (17, 23)
– Don José: Leonardo Caimi (12, 14, 16, 20) / Rafael Dávila (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Micaela: Jaquelina Livieri (12, 14, 16, 20) / Marina Silva (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Escamillo: Simón Orfila (12, 14, 16, 20) / Christian Peregrino (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Zúñiga: Cristian De Marco (12, 14, 16, 20) / Carlos Esquivel (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Dancaire: Sebastian Klastornick (12, 14, 16, 20) / Gustavo Gibert (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Remendado: Pablo Truchljak (12, 14, 16, 20) / Gabriel Centeno (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Morales: Felipe Carelli (12, 14, 16, 20) / Alejo Alvarez Castillo (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Frasquita: Laura Polverini (12, 14, 16, 20) / Eugenia Coronel Bugnon (13, 17, 21, 23)
– Mercedes: Daniela Prado (12, 14, 16, 20) / Victoria Gaeta (13, 17, 21, 23)
Photos: Production of the opera *Carmen* during the performances held in January this year at the Gran Teatre del Liceu (c) David Ruano
