Faena Theater welcomes Spanish siren Esperanza “La Espe” as the smoldering new Master of Ceremonies in its retelling of Carmen—a fiery cabaret inspired by Georges Bizet’s iconic 19th-century opera.
Created in collaboration with Quixotic, an award-winning performance art collective, the recharged story blazes to life with a rebellious modern edge. Originally premiered in 1875, Carmen is a tale of passion, power, and doomed romance set in sultry Seville. At its heart is the fiercely independent Carmen, whose allure ignites a dangerous love triangle that spirals into obsession and tragedy.
Born in Córdoba, Spain, La Espe channels the spirit of Andalusian roots into a sound that blends Latin tradition with modern pop. A semifinalist on The Voice Spain (Team Alejandro Sanz), La Espe first won over audiences with her emotive vocals and fierce authenticity. Armed with dual degrees from Berklee College of Music and classical training from Córdoba’s Professional Conservatory, she marries classical technique with raw soul. We sat down with La Espe to talk about embodying Carmen’s legacy and what it means to bring her voice to the role of Micaëla, who’s locked in a gripping love triangle.
What do you think is special about Faena’s rendition of Carmen?
Carmen feels exotic to U.S. audiences—it’s rooted flamenco culture, full of passion, romantic tragedy, and messy love triangles. It’s dramatic and fun, like a telenovela you can’t stop watching. What makes the Faena reinterpretation so special is its mind-blowing acrobatics, fire artistry, contemporary dance, and music that fuses flamenco, pop, and hip-hop into a genre of its own. It’s intense, emotional, and I’m truly honored to be part of it.
What do you think audiences love about the show? Before becoming the MC, I was an audience member, and what struck me the most was the proximity you have with the cast members. You’re face-to-face with the characters, it’s almost like you’re part of the show. In a world dominated by AI and watching what we think is life through screens, being able to go to such a visceral show like this and immerse yourself with all your senses—where you feel the heat of the fire, see bodies flying through the air, hear live vocals and music—is really something magical.
What inspires you about performing with the other cast members?
We put a lot of work into this show, each one of us in our different field. As a team, we’re all very aligned on making a final product that shines, makes people laugh, surprised, and amazed because we are doing things they won’t see anywhere else. There is a lot of training, creativity and grit that goes on behind the scenes—and I think that’s what makes us so special and worth watching. Working with Quixotic is especially inspiring because they’re always thinking out of the box and coming up with ideas that nobody has thought of before.
What do you enjoy about your role in the show?
It’s an interesting role because it’s one that diverges from the original version. In Bisset’s opera, Micaëla is just a supporting character, Don José’s childhood sweetheart. And in this production, she is the master of ceremonies guiding the audience into the story through her memory of events. What I find so refreshing about this retelling is that instead of the two women hating each other and competing for Don José’s love, they become allies and the true heroes of the story.
