Carmen

Sophie Melbinger; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Scene photo from the opera »Carmen«, Act 2, end: Moralès is moving in the foreground, Frasquita is sitting on his shoulders, he is carrying her down the sloping stage, she has her right arm raised in a fighting gesture. Behind them, on the stage, Mercédès, Dancaïro and several choristers. All in walking motion, some with their fists raised militantly. — Daniils Pogoriless, Theresa Immerz, Amber Fasquelle, João Terleira, Choir; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Scene photo from the opera »Carmen«, Act 3: Overall dark room. Detail of duel. Close-up and full-length shot of José in motion (running) from right to left. He has a knife outstretched in his right hand. It is pointed at Escamillo, who is outside the frame. — Jaesung Kim; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Scene photo from the opera »Carmen«, Act 4: In the centre of the picture Escamillo in full bullfighter costume; he stands on a balustrade, framed on the left and right by lanterns. — Ipča Ramanović; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Scene photo from the opera »Carmen«, Act 4: portrait format. In the centre of the picture, Carmen in a pink dress, looking out of the photo with a glance over her shoulder. Behind her a staircase on which followers of the torero Escamillo are standing. — Almerija Delic, Choir; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Scene photo from the opera »Carmen«, Act 2: close-up. In the centre of the picture, the torero Escamillo stands in a white shirt and black trousers with a high waistband on a platform. Above him, suspended from a rope, are lanterns. Standing around him is a large crowd of fans from different social groups: soldiers and Spanish countrymen on the left and centre, ladies in black and white polka-dot costumes on the right. — James Homann, Choir; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Scene photo from the opera »Carmen«, Act 4: Close-up of the entire stage area. In the foreground from left to right: Frasquita, José, Escamillo, Manuelitá, all looking at Carmen, who is lying on the floor on the right after being stabbed by José. Across the stairs and the upper balcony, also looking at Carmen: Mercédès and the ladies and gentlemen of the chorus. The orchestra and conductor can be seen in the background. — Ensemble; Photo: Susanne Reichardt

Opera by Georges Bizet

Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele

Musical Theatre
Schlosshof

Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy based on a novella by Prosper Mérimée / In French, German narration

Carmen’s hunger for independence and self-determination fascinate the soldier Don José. For this woman he leaves his fiancé Micaëla. He quits his bourgeois life, becomes an outlaw himself and dives into the world of smugglers with Carmen. But Carmen knows how to shed this possessive and controlling corset with fatal consequences for the offended José, driven to extremes by his jealousy.

No other female character stirs emotions like Carmen. She is the prototype of the independent, empowered woman. Georges Bizet's melodious masterpiece returns to the castle courtyard following its successful revival last summer.

Carmen

Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele

Musical Theatre

20:30 → 23:00 h

Schlosshof

Sold out (last-minute tickets may be available at the box office)

Opera by Georges Bizet

One interval

Carmen

Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele

Musical Theatre

20:30 → 23:00 h

Schlosshof

Sold out (last-minute tickets may be available at the box office)

Opera by Georges Bizet

One interval

Carmen

Heidelberger Schlossfestspiele

Musical Theatre

20:30 → 23:00 h

Schlosshof

last performance!

Sold out (last-minute tickets may be available at the box office)

Opera by Georges Bizet

One interval

Musical Direction

Dietger Holm Junyoung Kim

Direction

Anja Kühnhold

Stage and Costumes

Anna Sophia Blersch

Lighting Design

Andreas Rehfeld

Choir Rehearsals

Florian Daniel

Dramaturgy

Ulrike Schumann

Conducting

Dietger Holm

Junyoung Kim

Don José

Jaesung Kim

Jihoon Park

Escamillo

Ipča Ramanović

Brett Carter

Le Dancaïre / Moralès

James Young

Le Remendado

João Terleira

Daniel Domarecki

Zuniga

Xiangnan Yao

Vasyl Pudchenko

Carmen

Zlata Khershberg-Reith

Almerija Delic

Micaëla

Indre Pelakauskaite

Alyona Rostovskaya

Frasquita

Theresa Immerz

Mercédès

Amber Fasquelle

Katarina Morfa

Manuelitá

Sophie Melbinger

Opernchor des Theaters und Orchesters Heidelberg und Gäste Philharmonisches Orchester Heidelberg

Director of Studies

Hanna Klose

Musical rehearsals

Hanna Klose, Junyoung Kim, Hanna Klose, Manon Parmentier, Nanami Yamane

Language coaching

Manon Parmentier

Assistant Direction and Evening theatre management

Lennart Kammler, Georg Zahn

Stage Management

Katharina von Zadow

Assistant Stage Design

Marie Paul

Assistant Costumes

Lena Eibl

The production of the decorative parts is carried out in the workshops of the Theater und Orchester Heidelberg.

A complete list of all employees of the technical departments involved can be found here.

Listen to an introduction by Ulrike Schumann (in German) here.

Für die Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung (30. Juni 2025) berichtet Alexandra Beilharz, die Stärke des Abends liege in der »herrlichen Schlosshof-Kulisse, in der atmosphärischen Gestaltung […] sowie bei den Musikerinnen und Musikern«. »Nuancenreich« begleitet werde die »Spannung zwischen Liebesdrama, sanften Passagen, spanischen Melodien oder feuriger Stierkampfromantik« vom »geschickt in den Bühnenraum integrierte[n]« Philharmonischen Orchester Heidelberg unter Yannis Pouspourikas. Das Publikum werde durch die »dynamische Bühnengestaltung« ins Geschehen hineingezogen – die Ausstattung habe »hier mit wenigen Mitteln viel vollbracht«. Musikalische »Glanzlichter« zeigten, dass Carmen eine »großartige Opéra comique [sei], deren mitreißende Melodien und tragische Dimension man als sehr gute Unterhaltung begreifen und genießen darf«.

Im Mannheimer Morgen (30. Juni 2025) gefällt Hans-Günter Fischer Almerija Delic, deren Carmen »gefestigt und facettenreich zugleich« wirke – auch der »großartige« Jaesung Kim steigere sich »als Sänger rückhaltlos in seinen Part hinein«, dem stehe Indre Pelakauskaite als Micaela nicht nach. Auch dem »exzellenten Heidelberger Opernchor« und dem Philharmonischen Orchester Heidelberg glücke es, »Bizets Musik zu feiern«.

With kind support of

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Carmen

Opera by Georges Bizet

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