Seattle Opera Prepares to Set McCaw Hall Ablaze with ‘Carmen’
Get ready, Seattle—this isn't your grandmother’s opera. When Bizet first unleashed Carmen in 1875, it broke the rules, shocked the audience, and redefined musical drama. In May 2026, Seattle Opera isn't just reviving a classic, but reclaiming that radical, dangerous energy. The company is closing their 2025/26 season with a production of Carmen that promises to be young, sexy, and volatile, just as it was originally meant to be.
This production, directed and choreographed by Paul Curran, dives headfirst into the story of a woman who values her absolute freedom over security, and the catastrophic clash that follows when an obsessed man tries to possess her.
What makes this performance truly electrifying is the homecoming of singer J'Nai Bridges. The Tacoma-born mezzo-soprano is a global powerhouse who has defined this role on the world's most prestigious stages. Bridges shares the lead role with singer Sasha Cooke, creating a truly world-class double cast that allows audiences to experience two unique, impactful interpretations of Carmen across the performance run.
The production also features tenors Matthew Cairns and Ryan Capozzo as Don José, baritones Christian Pursell and Benjamin Taylor as Escamillo, and conductor Ludovic Morlot leading the Seattle Symphony.
This Carmen is a provocation—a study in obsession and the price of autonomy. If you haven't been to the opera lately, this is the moment to show up.
What you need to know:
Where?: McCaw Hall, Seattle Center.
When?: May 2 through May 17, 2026.
Language: Sung in French with English subtitles.
Vibe: Electric, intimate, and unapologetically bold.
Get your tickets today here.
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