LA Opera is taking its season opener straight to the people this fall, announcing free live simulcasts of Georges Bizet's Carmen at Santa Monica Pier and William Steinmetz Park in Hacienda Heights on October 17, 2026. Both events are open to the public at no cost, with no tickets required, and the performance will be beamed in high definition straight from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion using seven HD cameras.
The announcement, first reported by MyNewsLA.com, marks the first time LA Opera has brought its annual simulcast tradition to the Hacienda Heights community. The Santa Monica Pier showing, meanwhile, will be the company's 13th Opera at the Beach event at that location, continuing a run that reached its 11th installment there in 2024 and its 12th in 2025, according to laopera.org.
Both simulcasts are set to begin at 6 p.m., with the performance sung in French and subtitled in English and Spanish on large LED screens at each site. Running time is expected to be about three hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission, per the same source. The show will be conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, who is opening his inaugural season as LA Opera's new music director with this very production.
Who's Bringing Carmen to Life
Thaddeus Strassberger directed and designed this new staging of Carmen, with choreography by Antonio Najarro. The cast features Rihab Chaieb in the title role, Joshua Guerrero as Don José, Kathleen O'Mara as Micaëla, and Liam James Karai as Escamillo. Set in Seville, the opera follows the unraveling relationship between Carmen and the soldier Don José after she becomes entangled with the bullfighter Escamillo.
The production is part of a broader outdoor simulcast series LA Opera has built over the years, following its 2024 free simulcast of Puccini's Madama Butterfly — which starred Karah Son in her LA debut as Cio-Cio San alongside Jonathan Tetelman as Pinkerton, conducted by James Conlon — at El Cariso Community Regional Park and Santa Monica Pier, as reported by OperaWire. A West Side Story simulcast followed in 2025.
Getting There and Settling In
At Santa Monica Pier, viewing-area gates open at 4 p.m. on October 17, giving early arrivers time to enjoy pre-show family activities including crafts, balloon art, face-painting, local artist performances, giveaways and food vendors. Attendees can reach the pier via the Metro E Line's Downtown Santa Monica Station, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and arrive early to grab a good spot.
Over in Hacienda Heights, festivities at William Steinmetz Park — located at 1545 S. Stimson Ave. — kick off at 4:30 p.m. with lawn games and caricature portraits, and the park offers free parking for those driving in. At both sites, outside food and nonalcoholic beverages are welcome, but alcohol and pets are not permitted. Attendees are also encouraged to register in advance for parking information, event updates and a free gift, with more details available through LA Opera at laopera.org/beach and laopera.org/park.
County Leaders Weigh In
Both events are presented with support from Los Angeles County, and county supervisors framed the simulcasts as a way to widen access to the arts. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said free events like this make the arts more accessible and create opportunities for Angelenos to gather. Supervisor Hilda Solis said the Hacienda Heights event will let San Gabriel Valley residents experience opera in their own community for the first time.
