Městské divadlo Brno hosted the world premiere of a new musical titled Carmen on October 24 and 25, 2026, Novinky reported. Spanish composer Iván Macías and librettist Félix Amador set the production in contemporary New York among Hispanic immigrants, transforming the original story’s soldier into a police officer and its smugglers into drug and human traffickers.
World Premiere at Městské divadlo Brno
The musical arrived at the Hudební scéna Městské divadlo Brno following the authors’ previous collaboration on the musical Medicus, which the theatre introduced to Czech audiences four years prior, according to Novinky. Félix Amador and Iván Macías chose Brno specifically for the world debut of their modern adaptation of Prosper Mérimée’s 19th-century novella, iROZHLAS reported.
Director and theatre general manager Stanislav Moša staged the production with the venue’s resident ensemble members. The staging features stage design by Christoph Weyers, costumes by Andrea Kučerová, and choreography by Michal Matěj, with musical direction handled by Dan Kalousek and Matěj Voda.
Contemporary New York Adaptation and Bizet Influences
While the new production draws its primary inspiration from Georges Bizet’s famous opera and Mérimée’s original text, the setting shifts entirely. Novinky reported that the narrative moves from Seville to modern-day Times Square within a community of Hispanic immigrants. The source material’s soldier Don José becomes police officer Joey, while smuggler figures are replaced by dangerous drug and human traffickers, as noted by iROZHLAS.
The creative team also incorporated specific character adjustments. The character of Micaela is expanded from Bizet’s opera, and Garcia—Carmen’s husband and a gangster recently released from prison—is pulled directly from the original literary text rather than the opera. Iván Macías embeds refined citations of Bizet’s score, including variations of the famous “Habanera,” into an orchestral arrangement performed from behind the stage.
Cast Performances on the Brno Stage
Marco Salvadori, a recipient of the Thalia Award, performed the role of the police officer Joey during the Saturday, October 31, 2026, performance reviewed by Novinky. Nikol Wetterová stepped into the title role of Carmen as an understudy, performing alongside Kristýna Daňhelová and Lesana Krausková. iROZHLAS reported that actress Lesana Krausková also portrays Carmen in alternating performances, describing the character as a self-confident woman from a family of Cuban refugees who values personal freedom above all else.
Irena Freudenschussová performed the role of the policewoman Michaela, delivering a demanding aria at the end of the first act that drew strong audience applause, according to Novinky. Lukáš Janota portrayed the opera megastar Camilla, reimagined from the original toreador Escamillo.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Production
Who wrote the music and libretto for the new Carmen?
The music was composed by Iván Macías, and the libretto and lyrics were written by Félix Amador. The original Spanish text was translated into Czech by Zuzana Čtveráčková.
When did the world premiere take place?
The world premiere was held on October 24 and 25, 2026, at the Music Scene of Městské divadlo Brno.
How does this version differ from the original opera?
The production moves the setting to contemporary New York City among Hispanic immigrants, turning Don José into a police officer named Joey and incorporating themes of human trafficking and the drug trade.