A Summer of Landmark Performances: from Lady Macbeth to Carmen Debut

This summer, Asmik Grigorian embarks on one of the most exciting chapters of her season, culminating in her debut as the title role in Bizet’s Carmen at the Salzburger Festspiele. Alongside this highly anticipated role debut, she returns to two other heroines, Verdi’s Lady Macbeth and Wagner’s Senta, while reuniting with longtime recital partner Lukas Geniušas for a special song recital in Munich. 

On July 2 and 5, Ms. Grigorian returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper, for part of their summer festival, as Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth. Conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Martin Kušej, the production pairs her with Gerald Finley in the title role, bringing together two of today’s most compelling Verdian interpreters in Shakespeare's gripping tragedy. 

Watch Ms. Grigorian as Lady Macbeth here and here. 

Tickets and additional information for Macbeth at the Bayerische Staatsoper can be found here. 

On July 15, Ms. Grigorian reunited with pianist Lukas Geniušas for the Bayerische Staatsoper’s Festspiel-Liederabend. Their programme explores the vocalise through works by Ravel, Fauré Hahn, BIzet, Messiaen, Rachmaninov, and Richard Strauss, culminating in Strauss’s luminous Vier letzte Lieder in Max Wolff’s intimate arrangement for voice and piano. 

Listen to Ms. Grigorian perform Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder here. 

Tickets and additional information for the Festspiel-Liederabend can be found here. 

The summer’s centerpiece opens on July 26th, when Ms. Grigorian makes her first-ever staged appearance as Carmen in Bizet’s masterpiece at the Salzburg Festival. Conducted by Teodor Currentiz and directed by Gabriela Carrizo (Peeping Tom), the new production also features Jonathan Tetelman, Kristina Mkhitaryan, and Davide Luciano. One of opera’s most iconic and complex heroines, Carmen marks a major new role in Ms. Grigorian’s ever-expanding repertoire. Performances run through August 26th.

Tickets and additional information for Carmen at the Salzburg Festival can be found here.

In addition, she performs at the Bayreuth Festival, where Ms. Grigorian returns to one of her signature Wagner roles as Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer on August 6 and 18. Performing at the legendary Festspielhaus, she revisits the role that has become one of her defining Wagner portrayals. 

Watch Ms. Grigorian perform “Senta’s Ballad” from Der Fliegende Holländer here. 

Tickets and additional information for Der Fliegende Holländer at the Bayreuth Festival can be found here.