Carmen C. Kruse is an Austrian German opera stage director, working on repertoire and new opera. Her works are shaped by an in-depth, psychological exploration of broad societal themes and their effects on individuals. Fed by first-hand accounts and community input, she creates immersive experiences, changes the relationship between orchestra and dramatic action, and presents worlds that inspire, empower, and connect.

 

Kruse recently directed the world premieres of Fabian Panisello's Die Judith von Shimoda at Bregenzer Festspiele, Carolyn Amann, Manuel Zwerger, and her new opera Great Open Eyes at Theater Münster and Mischa Tangian's Morgen sehe ich mich at Kunst Haus Wien. In 2022, she premiered her and Manuel Zwerger's music theater VR-BANIA at Musiktheatertage Wien, which toured Zurich and Innsbruck in early 2023. Carmen's 2023/24 Season features her debut with Neue Oper Wien and Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theatre, Japan, a double-bill at Landesbühne Radebeul, the completion of Patricia Martinez's last Opera The End of the World and a world premiere at Volksoper Wien. 

 

Carmen C. Kruse won the CROSS Award in Italy (5t edition, October 2019), as well as the directing competition of the Osterfestspiele Baden-Baden, the Berliner Philharmoniker, Theater Baden-Baden, and the Deutsche Bank Stiftung (April 2018), and was a finalist of the new music theater competition OPER.A 20.21 of the Fondazione Haydn Stiftung (2019) and the NOperas! Competition (2021). She is an Alumna a.o. of the Akademie Musiktheater heute (Directing-Scholarship, 2017-19), the Lincoln Center Theaters Directors Lab (2018), the BMP: Producer Academy in New York (2020), and the Women Opera Makers Workshop with Katie Mitchell at L`Académie du Festival d'Aix (2020). Productions brought her a.o. to renown opera houses and festivals such as Osterfestspiele Baden-Baden, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Ensemble Modern Frankfurt, Halifax Summer Opera Festival,  and Nikikai Opera Theatre Japan.

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Date of publication: September 2023