World Premiere of Carmen's Last Dance
an exclusive one-hour adaptation of Bizet's masterpiece, created especially for the festival by Pavel Timofeyevsky.
All experiences
The Notable Festival
Carmen's Last Dance
A celebration of passion, rhythm, and fire in the heart of Provence.
Carmen’s Last Dance - Bizet’s masterpiece in one hour — World Premiere
Opera Meets Flamenco - discover the authentic Spanish traditions that inspired Carmen, from live flamenco demonstrations to a hands-on Flamenco Salon.
Prices on request
When
8–11 October 2026
Where
Luxury Villa Sainte-Maxime, France, France
The experience
An invitation to join us.
More than an opera festival, Carmen's Last Dance is an immersive four-day celebration of music, art and culture on the French Riviera.
Set between the elegant surroundings of Villa Les Cistes and the beautiful coastline of Sainte-Maxime, the festival explores the enduring legacy of Bizet's Carmen through world-class performances, thought-provoking talks, exclusive art experiences, flamenco, gastronomy and intimate encounters with internationally acclaimed artists.
Each day reveals a different chapter of Carmen's story, from the myths and history behind the opera to the passion, freedom and destiny that define its unforgettable heroine. Alongside concerts featuring artists from Europe's leading opera houses, guests enjoy private art visits, cultural conversations, Spanish culinary experiences and a hands-on introduction to the rhythms and traditions of flamenco.
At the heart of the festival is the world premiere of Carmen's Last Dance, an exclusive one-hour adaptation of Bizet's masterpiece by Pavel Timofeyevsky, created especially for Fêtes Musicales.
Combining exceptional music, inspiring ideas and the relaxed elegance of the Côte d'Azur, Carmen's Last Dance offers a unique festival experience where opera is not simply performed - it is lived.
A few highlights
Part of the experience.
Opera Meets Flamenco
discover the authentic Spanish traditions that inspired Carmen, from live flamenco demonstrations to a hands-on Flamenco Salon.
Behind the Myth of Carmen
engaging talks exploring the real Spain behind the legend, the history of Mérimée's novel, Bizet's inspiration, and the opera's enduring legacy.
Private Art Experiences
exclusive access to the remarkable COMO Le Beauvallon collection and curated art conversations.
The Art of Spanish Tapas
a chef-led culinary experience celebrating the flavours of Andalusia.
Opera Gala: The French Century
an evening of masterpieces by Bizet, Gounod, Massenet and Delibes, performed by internationally acclaimed artists.
Opera to Broadway Finale
a celebratory closing concert featuring beloved highlights from opera and musical theatre, from Bizet and Puccini to Les Misérables and West Side Story.
Meet the Artists
intimate introductions, guest conversations and opportunities to engage with world-class performers throughout the festival.
Luxury Riviera Setting
four days of music, art and gastronomy in the elegant surroundings of Sainte-Maxime and Villa Les Cistes.
Performances
The concerts.
The people behind the music
Meet the artists.
Pavel Timofeyevsky
Piano
About Pavel Timofeyevsky
Virtuoso pianist, composer for film and the concert stage, arranger and lecturer, Pavel Timofeyevsky has received numerous prizes and accolades, including the BBC/Guardian Young Composer of the Year award. Pavel has appeared at nearly all the major concert venues across the UK. Concert tours, along with television and radio appearances in other parts of the world include the USA, China, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Russia, Latvia, Greece, Cyprus and India.
Emma Roberts
Mezzo-soprano
About Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts is a mezzo-soprano and graduate of the Royal College of Music International Opera School, currently associated with leading programmes including Orsay-Royaumont Académie. An award-winning singer, she has performed roles with companies such as Welsh National Opera and Garsington Opera, and appeared in recitals at venues including Wigmore Hall. Upcoming engagements include the title roles in The Rape of Lucretia (2026) and Carmen (2026).
Matthew Curtis
Tenor
About Matthew Curtis
British tenor Matthew Curtis is a rising young artist and 2025 semifinalist in the prestigious Paris Opera Competition. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music with a Master’s from the Royal College of Music, he is currently a Young Artist with Opera Prelude. Recent highlights include Lensky in Eugene Onegin with Hampstead Garden Opera, part of the Offie Award-winning production, as well as performances with Glyndebourne, Opera North, British Youth Opera, Nevill Holt Opera, and the Buxton International Opera Festival.
Tim Alexander
Baritone
About Tim Alexander
Tim Alexander is a British baritone known for his work in Mozart, Puccini and Verdi repertoire, trained at the Royal Northern College of Music. He has performed roles such as Don Giovanni, Marcello, and Guglielmo, and appeared with companies including Dorset Opera and at the BBC Proms.
Upcoming engagements include Escamillo in Carmen (2026) and Conte Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro for the Da Ponte Opera Festival.
Meriel Cunningham
mezzo-soprano
About Meriel Cunningham
Meriel Cunningham is a British mezzo-soprano and singing actor based in London. Praised for her captivating stage presence, she is rapidly gaining recognition for both her vocal and dramatic ability, with critics commending her exceptional comedic timing and rich mezzo-soprano tone. Recent career highlights include a “standout” performance as Rosina in Charles Court Opera’s acclaimed production of The Barber of Seville and a nomination for Best Opera Performance at OffWestEnd’s 2024 Offie Awards. A graduate of The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Meriel continues to study with John Evans.
Catherine Hooper
Soprano
About Catherine Hooper
Catherine Hooper is a Kiwi-British soprano and graduate of the Royal College of Music, with further studies at the Universities of Cambridge and St Andrews. A prizewinner at the 2025 Joan Sutherland Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award, she has performed leading roles with companies including Devon Opera and OperaUpClose, and is a former member of the Glyndebourne Chorus. She appears regularly in opera, concert and recital repertoire in the UK and internationally.
Iúnó Connolly
Soprano
About Iúnó Connolly
Soprano Iúnó Connolly has performed at major venues including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, and the Philharmonie de Paris, and has appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall. A prize winner at the 2023 Concorso Voci Nuove per La Lirica G. Fraschini and recipient of the Elena Gehardt Lieder Prize, she trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music, and studies with Maestro Antonio Lemmo.
Urška Horvat
Jure Smirnov Oštir
Violin
About Jure Smirnov Oštir
Violinist Jure Smirnov Oštir is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with Levon Chilingirian and Remus Azoitei. An award-winning soloist, he has performed at leading venues including Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall and St Martin-in-the-Fields, and appeared with ensembles including the London Sinfonietta, English Chamber Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia. A former London Philharmonic Orchestra Foyle Future Firsts artist, Jure has performed extensively across Europe and studied in masterclasses with distinguished musicians including Maxim Vengerov and James Ehnes.
In focus
A New One-Hour Adaptation by Pavel Timofeyevsky
Experience Bizet’s masterpiece in a bold new way. Carmen’s Last Dance is a thrilling one-hour adaptation that captures the passion, drama and unforgettable music of one of opera’s most celebrated works.
Featuring the opera’s most iconic moments—including the Habanera, Toreador’s Song, Card Scene, and the gripping final confrontation—this condensed production preserves the full emotional journey while making it fresh, accessible and fast-paced for today’s audiences.
Presented as an intimate semi-staged performance, Carmen’s Last Dance brings the spirit of Seville to life with internationally acclaimed artists, creating an operatic experience that is both powerful and unforgettable.
Discover more
Art & culture.
Festival Special Exhibition
Yulia Nesis
Yulia Nesis
Yulia Nesis was born in 1984 in Novorossiysk, Russia. She graduated from Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry in 2014 and is a member of the Moscow Union of Artists.
Tapestry Art
“A Book of Changes.
Lightning”
Handmade Tapestry 213 × 285 cm 2022
When the world is set in motion and uncertainty arrives, people have since time immemorial turned to divination and signs in search of what may lie ahead.
In China, the Book of Changes - the I Ching - has been consulted for millennia. Through coins or yarrow stalks, one of sixty-four hexagrams is revealed, each carrying its own symbolic meaning.
In this work, Yulia Nesis turns to the hexagram Zhen - “Lightning” - a symbol of sudden upheaval and external change. It speaks of fear, disruption and the need to preserve composure when the world shifts unexpectedly.
“Lightning comes and you cry out in fright ‘Oh! Oh!’ and then you laugh: ‘Ha-ha!’”
The work looks toward the horizon as both warning and possibility - a meditation on uncertainty, destiny and the human instinct to search for meaning in times of profound change.
Art at the Festival
The Living Gallery
Where music meets fine art.
Throughout the villa, guests will discover museum-quality art, high jewellery and curated cultural experiences woven naturally into the rhythm of the festival.
Curated by
Gal’Art
Founded by art historian Galina Coulot (Gala), Gal’Art is an international fine art consultancy and curatorial company with more than twenty-five years of experience across Europe and Asia.
Now based on the French Riviera, Gal’Art creates refined cultural experiences that unite visual arts, music and history through exhibitions, lectures and bespoke artistic programmes.
Their multicultural perspective and commitment to artistic excellence make them an ideal curatorial partner for the festival.
Featured Artists & Experiences
Andrey Marudenko
Fine Art Photography
A specially selected collection of photographic works will be exhibited throughout the villa, capturing contemporary artistic perspectives through a distinctive visual language.
Narcisa Pheres
High Jewellery Exhibition
Discover one-of-a-kind jewellery by Narcisa Pheres, internationally renowned gem designer, celebrated for rare gemstones, couture craftsmanship and creations worn by some of the world’s most iconic women.
44 Gin
Private Tasting Experience
An intimate tasting and presentation celebrating artisanal spirit production, craftsmanship and the story behind one of the Riviera’s distinctive luxury brands.
A Living Gallery
Unlike a traditional exhibition, the artworks become part of the festival itself - displayed throughout the villa’s spaces.
Between concerts, conversations and dinners, guests are free to explore the collection, meet the exhibitors and discover works that resonate with them.
Purchase Your Art
Works presented as part of the Gal’Art exhibition are available for purchase throughout the festival, with private viewings and introductions arranged by Gal’Art.
Before you join us
The useful details.
Location
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Contact us for the full programme, current availability and further details.