Carmen

Act 1

In the square, the dragoons are lazily watching the citizens going about their business when their interest is caught by a young village girl who is looking for someone. Officer Moralès questions the girl, Micaëla, and she reveals that she needs to see Don José, but he is not among these men. She leaves, just missing Don José’s arrival with the next shift to taking over from Moralès’ men. The clock sounds noon and signals the lunch break for the workers at the cigarette factory (“La cloche a sonné”). The girls come out of a door onto the square and are met by the admiring guards, though one stands as favorite among the men: Carmen, the gypsy. She laughingly rejects the advances of the men, which she has become accustomed to (Habanera: “L’amour et en oiseau rebelle”), but spots a different face in the crowd. Something about Don José sparks her interest, although he is at first oblivious to her presence. Carmen forces him to notice her by throwing him a flower and quickly leaving