In a bold and highly anticipated move, celebrated soprano Asmik Grigorian is set to take on one of opera's most iconic roles, Carmen, at the prestigious Salzburg Festival next summer. This decision sees the 44-year-old star venturing into a vocal territory traditionally reserved for mezzo-sopranos, a challenge she is embracing head-on.
A Daring Vocal Departure
Grigorian will sing the title role in Georges Bizet's "Carmen" in a new production directed by Gabriela Carrizo. The performances, beginning on July 26, will feature Jonathan Tetelman as Don José and Kristina Mkhitaryan as Micaëla, with Teodor Currentzis conducting the Utopia Orchestra. Grigorian acknowledged the timing of this venture, stating she felt the need to perform it now rather than later in her career.
While legendary sopranos like Maria Callas and Leontyne Price have recorded the role, few have performed the complete part on stage. In recent years, sopranos like Ana María Martínez and Danielle de Niese have taken on the live challenge. Grigorian's foray into Carmen's lower vocal range, or tessitura, is a significant step that often sparks discussion in the opera community.
Confidence from the Industry
Peter Gelb, the Metropolitan Opera's general manager, expressed strong confidence in Grigorian's abilities. He described her as a "fearless" and "old-school singer" when it comes to tackling new repertoire. This sentiment was echoed by soprano Ana María Martínez, who made her own Carmen debut in 2014. Martínez highlighted that the role's biggest challenge is not vocal but the commanding stage presence required, an area where she believes Grigorian will excel due to her magnetic personality.
Before her Salzburg debut, Grigorian is keeping a busy schedule. She recently performed at New York's Carnegie Hall in a special concert arranged by promoter Eugene Wintour, which paired stars who hadn't sung together before. Despite the unconventional holiday timing, which saw slower ticket sales in the US compared to European traditions, the event was a notable gathering of talent.
A Storied Career and Future Plans
The daughter of tenor Gegham Grigorian, Asmik made her opera debut in 2004 and has since risen to become one of the world's leading dramatic sopranos. Her current season includes major title roles in Puccini's "Turandot" and "Manon Lescaut," as well as Richard Strauss's "Salome." Looking ahead, she has tentatively planned her first performance in Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" for the Vienna State Opera in 2029.
As she prepares to embody the famous seductress, Grigorian is immersing herself in the role daily. With characteristic humility and determination, she acknowledged the risk, wondering aloud if it might be a "failure," but concluded with a resolute "Let's see." The classical music world will undoubtedly be watching closely when she brings her unique interpretation of Carmen to one of its most illustrious stages next July.
