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 Rossini's Mose in Egitto at Stadttheater Gießen. Carmen's 2023/24 Season featured her debut with Neue Oper Wien and Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theatre, Japan, and a double-bill at Landesbühnen Sachsen: Poulenc Les Mamelles de Tiresias and Boesman's Julie. 2024/2025 featured the completion of Patricia Martinez's last Opera The End of the World and the development of Queer Stories of Joy with Volksoper Wien. In 2025/2026 Kruse works and premieres the world premieres of MuPath The Resilience of Sisyphos, a 4,5 hours immersive new opera centering climate resilience (also as a co-author), Ixta Rodero Gil's Intimidad in Linz, Wen Liu's Yum! with Studio M.A.R.S. at Bregenzer Festspiele and develops the libretto of Echoes of Innocence based on the experiences of war and hope by Ukrainian children.

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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). Her production Die Judith von Shimoda was nominated for the Austrian Music Theater Prize 2024 as "Best World Premiere". 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), the Opera Management Course by Opera Europa (2025) 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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Kruse is an LGBTQIA+ activist, moderator and lecturer. 

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Date of publication: February 2026