A Summary Of Carmen Essay, Research Paper

A Summary Of Carmen

Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen was first performed at the Paris Opera-Comique on Mar. 3, 1875. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy, based on Prosper Merimee’s novella.

Don Jose, a young soldier, is garrisoned in Seville. There he encounters Carmen (act 1), a gypsy woman who, as a front for her smuggling activities, works in a cigarette factory. When Carmen is involved in a noisy disturbance of the peace, Don Jose is told to arrest her. Seduced by her charms, he allows her to escape and is himself sent to prison.

On his release (act 2), he seeks her out at the tavern of Lillas Pastia, competes rashly for her favors with his commanding officer, and, after deserting the army, becomes a member of the smugglers’ band (act 3). Carmen soon tires of him; seething at this rejection, he returns to his native village with his onetime fiancee, Micaela, but not for long. Carmen has become the adored companion of the reigning torero. At the moment of her triumph (act 4), Jose waits for her outside the bullring. He begs her to leave with him, but she refuses, and he kills her.

As originally composed, Carmen was cast in the form of set musical numbers linked by spoken dialogue. Although this version has recently returned to favor, an adaptation done by Ernest Guiraud after Bizet’s death, in which the dialogue is sung recitative, is still in general use.