The Metropolitan Opera Presents: Georges Bizet's Carmen: Libretto, Background and Photos

By Georges Bizet and Henri Meilhac

A riveting story of fatal attraction between a beguiling, strong-willed gypsy and a naïve but passionate soldier who falls under her spell, Georges Bizet's Carmen pulses with seduction, obsession, and deadly betrayal. It was reviled at its Paris premiere, where its realism and perceived amorality proved shocking, but it became one of the most popular and highly regarded operas of all time. Arguably the greatest musical product of France's enduring fascination with Spain, Carmen features many numbers that are now almost universally familiar, including the seductive Habanera and the boastful but infectious Toreador Song. Don José is an idealistic young corporal in 1820s Seville when he encounters the gypsy Carmen, who is irresistible to all men – seemingly except José, who loves the innocent country girl Micaëla. But soon enough Carmen works her wiles on him to escape imprisonment, and a later twist of ever-looming fate forces him to completely abandon the world he knows and follow Carmen into a life of crime. When the bullfighter Escamillo wins Carmen's affections, Don José's explosive jealousy clashes with Carmen's resolve to remain true to herself, leading to one of opera's fiercest confrontations and most unforgettable conclusions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RowmanLittlefield
• Release date: Mar 1, 2003
• ISBN: 9781574674712

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Copyright © 2014 The Metropolitan Opera

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Published in 2014 by Amadeus Press

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English translation of libretto copyright © 1999 by Leyerle Publications, 28 Stanley Street, Mt. Morris, New York 14510. English translation by Nico Castel. Originally published by Leyerle Publications as part of French Opera Libretti. These publications, and others in the Leyerle Opera Libretti series, are available directly from Leyerle’s website at www.leyerlepublications.com.

Printed in the United States of America

Book design by Mark Lerner

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

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Contents

Introduction

Synopsis

In Focus by William Berger

Program Note by Hugh Macdonald

CARMEN

Notes by Nico Castel

Photographs

Introduction

Strong-willed, fiery, and tempestuous—the character of Carmen has captivated the world’s imagination for more than a century and a half. The beautiful gypsy first came to life in Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella and became immortal through Bizet’s opera 30 years later. The composer, though, didn’t live to see his opera triumph around the world. He died just three months after its Paris premiere, which was not a success, due mostly to the unexpectedly realistic and sensual story that came as a shock to 19th-century audiences. The Met first presented Carmen in its inaugural 1883–84 season, when it was already an international hit, and has since performed it nearly a thousand times.

Emma Calvé as Carmen, 1893

Falk / Metropolitan Opera Archives

Like the previous volumes of the Metropolitan Opera Presents series, this book is designed to give you an in-depth introduction to Bizet’s immortal creation. In addition to the complete libretto in French and English, you will find a synopsis, a detailed program note with historical background, and the In Focus feature we provide in the Met’s house program every night—a brief summary of key aspects of the opera. We’ve also included many archival photos of some of the greatest stars who have appeared at the Met in 130 years of Carmen history. Whether you watch the opera in the theater or as part of our Live in HD movie-theater transmissions, or listen to a radio broadcast or web stream, we hope this book will give you all the information you need to enjoy and appreciate Carmen’s many riches.

To learn more about Met productions, Live in HD movie-theater transmissions, Met membership, and more, visit metopera.org.

Italo Campanini as Don José, 1884

Mora / Metropolitan Opera Archives

Synopsis

Act I

Spain, around 1830. In Seville by a cigarette factory, soldiers comment on the townspeople. Among them is Micaëla, a peasant girl, who asks for a corporal named Don José. Moralès, another corporal, tells her he will return with the changing of the guard. The relief guard, headed by Lieutenant Zuniga, soon arrives, and José learns from Moralès that Micaëla has been looking for him. When the factory bell rings, the men of Seville gather to watch the female workers—especially their favorite, the gypsy Carmen. She tells her admirers that love is free and obeys no rules. Only one man pays no attention to her: Don José. Carmen throws a flower at him, and the girls go back to work. José picks up the flower and hides it when Micaëla returns. She brings a letter from José’s mother, who lives in a village in the countryside. As he begins to read the letter, Micaëla leaves. José is about to throw away the flower when a fight erupts inside the factory between Carmen and another girl. Zuniga sends José to retrieve the gypsy. Carmen refuses to answer Zuniga’s questions, and José is ordered to take her to prison. Left alone with him, she entices José with suggestions of a rendezvous at Lillas Pastia’s tavern. Mesmerized, he agrees to let her get away. As they leave for prison, Carmen escapes. Don José is arrested.

Act II

Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercédès entertain the guests at the tavern. Zuniga tells Carmen that José has just been released. The bullfighter Escamillo enters, boasting about the pleasures of his profession, and flirts with Carmen, who tells him that she is involved with someone else. After the tavern guests have left with Escamillo, the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado explain their latest scheme to the women. Frasquita and Mercédès are willing to help, but Carmen refuses because she is in love. The smugglers withdraw as José approaches. Carmen arouses his jealousy by telling him how she danced for Zuniga. She dances for him now, but when a bugle call is heard he says he must return to the barracks. Carmen mocks him. To prove his love, José shows her the flower she threw at him and confesses how its scent made him not lose hope during the weeks in prison. She is unimpressed: if he really loved her, he would desert the army and join her in a life of freedom in the mountains. José refuses, and Carmen tells him to leave. Zuniga bursts in, and in a jealous rage José fights him. The smugglers return and disarm Zuniga. José now has no choice but to join them.

Act III

Carmen and José quarrel in the smugglers’ mountain hideaway. She admits that her love is fading and advises him to return to live with his mother. When Frasquita and Mercédès turn the cards to tell their fortunes, they foresee love and riches for themselves, but Carmen’s cards spell death—for her and for José. Micaëla appears, frightened by the mountains and afraid to meet the woman who has turned José into a criminal. She hides when a shot rings out. José has fired at an intruder, who turns out to be Escamillo. He tells José that he has come to find Carmen, and the two men fight. The smugglers separate them, and Escamillo invites everyone, Carmen in particular, to his next bullfight. When he has left, Micaëla emerges and begs José to return home. He agrees when he learns that his mother is dying, but before he leaves he warns Carmen that they will meet again.

Act IV

Back in Seville, the crowd cheers the bullfighters on their way to the arena. Carmen arrives on Escamillo’s arm, and Frasquita and Mercédès warn her that José is nearby. Unafraid, she waits outside the entrance as the crowds enter the arena. José appears and begs Carmen to forget the past and start a new life with him. She calmly tells him that their affair is over: she was born free and free she will die. The crowd is heard cheering Escamillo. José keeps trying to win Carmen back. She takes off his ring and