Bizet Georges - The Metropolitan Opera presents Georges Bizets Carmen

Copyright 2014 The Metropolitan Opera All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without written permission, except by a newspaper or magazine reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review. Published in 2014 by Amadeus Press
An Imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation
7777 West Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53213 Trade Book Division Editorial Offices
33 Plymouth St., Montclair, NJ 07042 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 Leyerles 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. www.amadeuspress.com Contents Strong-willed, fiery, and tempestuousthe character of Carmen has captivated the worlds imagination for more than a century and a half. The beautiful gypsy first came to life in Prosper Mrimes 1845 novella and became immortal through Bizets opera 30 years later. The composer, though, didnt 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 188384 season, when it was already an international hit, and has since performed it nearly a thousand times.

Like the previous volumes of the Metropolitan Opera Presents series, this book is designed to give you an in-depth introduction to Bizets 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 Mets house program every nighta brief summary of key aspects of the opera. Weve 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 Carmens many riches. Act I Spain, around 1830. Act I Spain, around 1830.

In Seville by a cigarette factory, soldiers comment on the townspeople. Among them is Micala, a peasant girl, who asks for a corporal named Don Jos. Morals, another corporal, tells her he will return with the changing of the guard. The relief guard, headed by Lieutenant Zuniga, soon arrives, and Jos learns from Morals that Micala has been looking for him. When the factory bell rings, the men of Seville gather to watch the female workersespecially 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 Jos. Carmen throws a flower at him, and the girls go back to work. Jos picks up the flower and hides it when Micala returns. She brings a letter from Joss mother, who lives in a village in the countryside. As he begins to read the letter, Micala leaves. Jos is about to throw away the flower when a fight erupts inside the factory between Carmen and another girl.

Zuniga sends Jos to retrieve the gypsy. Carmen refuses to answer Zunigas questions, and Jos is ordered to take her to prison. Left alone with him, she entices Jos with suggestions of a rendezvous at Lillas Pastias tavern. Mesmerized, he agrees to let her get away. As they leave for prison, Carmen escapes. Don Jos is arrested.

Act II Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercds entertain the guests at the tavern. Zuniga tells Carmen that Jos 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 Dancare and Remendado explain their latest scheme to the women. Frasquita and Mercds are willing to help, but Carmen refuses because she is in love. The smugglers withdraw as Jos 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, Jos 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. Jos refuses, and Carmen tells him to leave.

Zuniga bursts in, and in a jealous rage Jos fights him. The smugglers return and disarm Zuniga. Jos now has no choice but to join them. Act III Carmen and Jos 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 Mercds turn the cards to tell their fortunes, they foresee love and riches for themselves, but Carmens cards spell deathfor her and for Jos.

Micala appears, frightened by the mountains and afraid to meet the woman who has turned Jos into a criminal. She hides when a shot rings out. Jos has fired at an intruder, who turns out to be Escamillo. He tells Jos 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, Micala emerges and begs Jos 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 Escamillos arm, and Frasquita and Mercds warn her that Jos is nearby. Unafraid, she waits outside the entrance as the crowds enter the arena. Jos 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. Jos keeps trying to win Carmen back. She takes off his ring and throws it at his feet before heading for the arena. Jos stabs her to death.

William Berger Premiere: Opra Comique, Paris; March 3, 1875 Bizets masterpiece of the gypsy seductress who lives by her own rules, no matter what the cost, has had an impact far beyond the opera house. The operas melodic sweep is as irresistible as the title character herself, a force of nature who has become a defining female cultural figure.