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Overview

Synopsis

Famous for its use of Spanish dances, such as the Habanera (“L’amour et en oiseau rebelle”) and Seguidilla (“Près de rampart de Seville”), Carmen has some of the most well-known music of the operatic canon.

When the seductive Spanish gypsy, Carmen, shows an interest in Don José, he initially dismisses it, intending to honor his promise to the village girl Micaëla. There is something irresistible about Carmen though, and when José is ordered to put her in prison he risks everything by setting her free. He is imprisoned for his crime but takes comfort from the flower she gave him, and through it becomes obsessed with her. On his release, he risks his life and honor for her again when she is threatened by another officer. José is forced to join the gypsies who came to his aid or face punishment for mutiny against a senior officer. Don José quickly regrets his decision and blames Carmen for his dishonor. He leaves the gypsies to attend his mother, who is dying, but swears he will return to Carmen and they will be together until death. Meanwhile, Carmen has read her death in the cards and in José’s look. When Escamillo, the toreador who took a fancy to Carmen while José was in prison, comes looking for her, she seizes the opportunity to get away from José. All ends in tragedy when José confronts Carmen in a jealous rage and forces her to choose.

Set in the heat of Seville, Carmen is an enduring story of passion, lust, jealousy, obsession, and revenge which remains one of the most popular operas in the canon today.

Show Information

Based On Book By
Prosper Mérimée
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Carmen
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
4
First Produced
1875
Genres
Drama, Romance, Tragedy
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Seville, 1820
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Carmen

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto

Don José

Lead

Male

Tenor

Micaëla

Lead

Female

Soprano

Escamillo

Lead

Male

Baritone

Zuniga

Supporting

Male

Baritone, Bass

Frasquita

Featured

Female

Soprano

Mercédès

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano

El Remendado

Featured

Male

Tenor

El Dancaïro

Featured

Male

Baritone

Moralès

Featured

Male

Baritone

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Baritone, Bass, Treble/Boy Soprano, Contralto

Songs

No. 1 Prelude

Act 1 - A public square in Seville

No. 2 Scene and Chorus: ‘Sur la place, Chacun passe’ - Moralès, Micaëla, Chorus

No. 3 Chorus of Urchins: ‘Avec la garde montante’ - Moralès, Don José, Chorus

Recitative: ‘C’est bien la’ - Zuniga, Don José

No. 4 Chorus of cigarette girls: ‘La cloche a sonné’ - Carmen, Chorus

No. 5 Habanera: ‘L'amour est un oiseau rebelle’ - Carmen, Chorus

No. 6 Scene: ‘Carmen! Sur tes pas nous pressons tous!’ - Chorus

Recitative: ‘Quels regards! Quelle effronterie!’ - Don José, Micaëla

No. 7 Duet: ‘Parle-moi de ma mère’ - Don José, Micaëla

Recitative: ‘Restala maintenant’ - Don José, Micaëla

No. 8 Chorus: ‘Que se passe-t-il là-bas?’ - Zuniga, Chorus

No. 9 Song and Melodrama: ‘Mon officier’ - Don José, Carmen, Zuniga, Chorus

No. 10 Seguidilla and Duet: ‘Près des ramparts de Séville’ - Carmen, Don José

No. 11 Finale: ‘Voici l'ordre; partez’ - Zuniga, Carmen

Entr'acte

Act 2 - Lillas Pastia’s Tavern

No. 12 Gypsy song: ‘Les tringles des sistres tintaient’ - Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita

Recitative: ‘Messieurs, Pastia me dit’ - Frasquita, Zuniga, Carmen, Mercédès

No. 13 Chorus: ‘Vivat! Vivat le Toréro!’ - Zuniga, Carmen, Frasquita, Moralès, Chorus

No. 14 Couplets: ‘Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre (The Toreador song)’ - Escamillo, Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Moralès, Zuniga, Chorus

Recitative: ‘La belle, un mot’ - Escamillo, Carmen, Zuniga

Exit of Escamillo

Recitative: ‘Eh bien vite’ - Frasquita, El Dancaïro, Mercédès, Carmen

No. 15 Quintet: ‘Nous avons en tête une affaire!’ - El Dancaïro, El Remendado, Carmen, Frasquita, Mercédès

Recitative: ‘Mais qui donc attends-tu?’ - El Dancaïro, Carmen, El Remendado

No. 16 Canzonetta: ‘Halte-là! Qui va là?’ - Don José, Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita, El Dancaïro, El Remendado

Recitative: ‘Enfin c’est toi!’ - Carmen, Don José

No. 17 Duet: ‘Je vais danser en votre honneur’ and The Flower Song ‘La fleur que tu m'avais jetée’ - Carmen, Don José

No. 18 Finale: Holà! Carmen! Holà! - Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Don José, El Remendado, El Dancaïro, Zuniga, Chorus

Entr'acte

Act 3 - A Wild Mountain Pass

No. 19: Sextet and Chorus: ‘Écoute, compagnon, écoute’ - Mercédès, Frasquita, Carmen, Don José, El Dancaïro, El Remendado, Chorus

Recitative: ‘Reposons-nous une heure ici’ - El Dancaïro, Carmen, Don José

No. 20 Trio: ‘Mêlons! Coupons!’ and The Card Aria ‘En vain pour éviter’ - Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen

Recitative: ‘Eh bien? Nous essayerons de passer’ - Carmen, Frasquita, El Dancaïro

No. 21 Morceau d’ensemble: ‘Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire!’ - Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, El Dancaïro, El Remendado, Chorus

No. 22 Aria: ‘C'est les contrebandiers le refuge ordinaire’ and ‘Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante’ - Micaëla

Recitative: ‘Je ne me trompe pas’ - Micaëla, Escamillo, Don José

No. 23 Duet: ‘Je suis Escamillo, Toréro de Grenade!’ - Escamillo, Don José

No. 24 Finale: ‘Holà holà José!’ - Carmen, Escamillo, Micaëla, Frasquita, Mercédès, El Dancaïro, Don José, El Remendado, Chorus

Entr'acte

Act 4 - Public Square in Seville, The Entrance of the Circus

No. 25 Chorus: ‘A deux cuartos!’ - Zuniga, Chorus

No. 26 March and Chorus: ‘Les voici! Voici la quadrille’ and ‘Si tu m'aimes, Carmen’ - Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Escamillo, Chorus, Children’s Chorus

No. 27 Duet and Finale: ‘C'est toi! C'est moi!’ - Carmen, Don José, Chorus

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.