Carmen is the ultimate force of nature in one of the world’s most celebrated operas.
A benchmark of the Summer Festival is the Lehrer Vocal Institute’s opera. Principal opera conductor Daniela Candillari, also the principal conductor of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, takes the podium for a fully staged production of Bizet’s Carmen in Santa Barbara’s historic Granada Theatre.
Anchored by the Academy Festival Orchestra, Carmen features the Lehrer Vocal Institute fellows in an original staging by director Ken Cazan that sets the story in present-day Spain, with choreography by flamenco star Manuel Gutierrez and members of the Academy’s Sing! children’s chorus.