Carmen opera by Georges Bizet
A new production by the Baalbeck International Festival
Friday, July 25th, 2025
Jorge Takla, the world-renowned director born in Beirut and who emigrated to Brazil fifty years ago, is returning to his homeland to pay tribute to Baalbeck and its Festival. It was here, in 1974, that he began his artistic journey alongside Bob Wilson. Since then, his acclaimed musicals and operas, performed in São Paulo, New York, Buenos Aires, and many other capitals, have garnered widespread recognition.
Today, he wishes to offer Baalbeck a new production of Bizet’ s Carmen, the world’s most performed and cherished opera. This vibrant and colorful event, envisioned as a grand celebration, will enchant audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It will feature renowned international voices in the lead roles – such us Marie Gautrot as Carmen, Jérôme Boutillier as Escamillo, Julien Behr as Don José and Vannina Santoni as Micaëla – accompanied by a European orchestra, while proudly showcasing the extraordinary talents of Lebanese singers, choirs, and dancers. The musical direction will be entrusted to Toufic Maatouk, whose international acclaim grows with each passing day.
Costumes will be designed by the great designer Rabih Kayrouz, and other visual elements will be entrusted to the masterful hands of renowned Lebanese artists, as the famous painter Nabil Nahas.
-Jorge Takla – Director
-Toufic Maatouk – Conductor
-Soloists:
Marie Gautrot – Carmen
Julien Behr – Don José
Jérôme Boutillier – Escamillo
Vannina Santoni – Micaela
Mira Akiki – Frasquita / Grace Medawar – Mercédès / Cesar Naassy – Zuniga / Fady Jeanbart – Morales /Philippe-Nicolas Martin – Le Dancaïre / Jason Choueifaty – Le Remendado
-Romanian Radio Symphony Orchestra
-Antonine University Choir
-Les Solistes de Beyrouth – Choir master Fernando Afara
-Jean-Louis Mainguy – Artistic Advisor
-Nabil Nahas- Visuals
-Rabih Kayrouz – Costume Designer
Hiba Tawaji
حقبات Stages
Live show in Baalbeck by Oussama Rahbani
Friday, August 8th, 2025
The Baalbeck International Festival presents a great Lebanese concert featuring an
exceptional female voice on the Lebanese and international music scene, Hiba Tawaji, who
recently made a memorable appearance at the historical reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Under the musical direction of the renowned composer, musician and producer Oussama
Rahbani, this event will include the participation of a full orchestra and choir, with many special surprises.
What awaits us in Baalbeck this year is a journey through history from the Temple of Baalbeck, where time will seem to freeze, only to draw us closer to our present. It will be an odyssey, a fusion of dreams and reality, an avant-garde spectacle that pulls us into its depths and makes us part of its story.
This evening will also include a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Mansour Rahbani on the occasion of his centenary.
Box Office
Tickets will be on sale starting April 10th, 2025
Book your tickets from any Ticketing Box Office (Virgin Megastores) ABC branches or reserve your tickets online on www.ticketingboxoffice.com and get them from any BOB finance, WHISH or OMT locations. For more info call 01 217810.
TICKETS PRICES (VAT included)
Opera Carmen
Friday July 25th, 2025
Steps of Bacchus Temple
50$ – 70$ – 100$ – 150$ – 200$ – 250$
Hiba Tawaji
Friday August 8th, 2025
Steps of Bacchus Temple
50$ – 70$ – 90$ – 120$ – 150$ – 180$
Announcement: Special Offers from the Baalbeck Festival!
1-Early bird: the Baalbeck Festival is excited to offer a round-trip transport ticket to Baalbeck for those who purchase a show ticket before May 1st.
2-Additionally, we are pleased to offer a 25% discount to university students for the purchase of 2 tickets, upon presentation of a valid student ID card.
3-Group pricing:
- A 10% discount for a purchase of 30 to 60 tickets
- A 12% discount for a purchase of 61 to 100 tickets
- A 15% discount for a purchase of more than 101 tickets
Don’t miss out on these great offers—secure your tickets now!