The roles / Georges Bizet

Escamillo

Carmen

Christian Van Horn’s Escamillo has traveled from Toronto to Chicago, Munich, San Francisco, London, New York, and Vienna. Here are the performances, images, and moments on film.

Bass-baritoneRole debut · 2016Seven opera companies

San Francisco Opera, 2024 · Photo: Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera

01 / On film

The Toreador

Escamillo on the Kennedy Center, San Francisco, and Vienna stages, plus a San Francisco curtain call.

Toreador Song · Kennedy Center Honors tribute to Justino Díaz, 2021

Escamillo · San Francisco Opera, 2024

Escamillo’s bow · San Francisco Opera, 2024

Toreador Song · Vienna State Opera, 2026

The Kennedy Center performance was part of the 44th Kennedy Center Honors, presented in 2021. Program credit ↗

02 / Performance record

Where I’ve sung Escamillo

Selected staged performances, from the role debut through Vienna.

2016

Carmen

Canadian Opera Company · Toronto

Role debut.

Production record ↗

2017

Carmen

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Escamillo in Lyric’s 2016–17 season.

Production record ↗

2019

Carmen

Bavarian State Opera · Munich

Lina Wertmüller’s production.

Performance record ↗

2024

Carmen

San Francisco Opera

Nine performances, November 13–December 1.

Company archive ↗

2025

Carmen

Royal Ballet and Opera · London

Royal Opera House debut at Covent Garden.

Cast sheet ↗

2026

Carmen

Metropolitan Opera · New York

Five January performances: 11, 14, 17, 20, and 23.

Met archive ↗

2026

Carmen

Vienna State Opera

June 1, 3, 5, 8, and 11, with Elmina Hasan as Carmen and Asher Fisch conducting.

Company cast listing ↗

03 / Ahead

Coming performances

Announced by the Vienna State Opera for its 2026–27 season.

April 30, May 4 & 7, 2027

Wiener Staatsoper

Vienna, Austria

Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen.

Performance details ↗

04 / In the press

Critical voices

Responses to the Escamillo performances.

“Every bit the strut-and-puff toreador we want him to be.”

Toronto, 2016 · Schmopera ↗

“Sonorous yet swaggering ‘Toreador Song.’”

Chicago, 2017 · Chicago Classical Review ↗

“Imbued the role with a booming voice and commanding presence.”

San Francisco, 2024 · Parterre Box ↗

“Looked 200 percent the part.”

San Francisco, 2024 · OperaWire ↗

05 / On stage

Escamillo in images

Performance and backstage views from the role archive.

Christian Van Horn in a gold Escamillo costume onstage at Vienna State Opera, smiling with one hand over his heart. — Escamillo · Vienna State Opera, 2026 · Photo: Katharina Schiffl

Christian Van Horn in Escamillo costume with hat and red sash, backstage. — Escamillo backstage, in costume.

Christian Van Horn in an ornate Escamillo costume and green cape. — Costume detail.

Christian Van Horn as Escamillo looks into a dressing-room mirror in a red and gold costume. — In the dressing room.

Christian Van Horn in Escamillo costume with a Carmen cast group. — With the *Carmen* cast.

Christian Van Horn as Escamillo swings a red cape onstage. — Escamillo on stage.

Escamillo in a red matador costume takes the hand of Carmen onstage. — Escamillo and Carmen.

Two portraits of Christian Van Horn in contrasting Escamillo costumes. — Two looks for Escamillo.

Christian Van Horn in ornate matador costume backstage. — In Escamillo costume.

Christian Van Horn as Escamillo sings on the San Francisco Opera stage in 2024. — San Francisco Opera, 2024 · video still.