Student Look-In Guide
GEORGES BIZET
Carmen Synopsis
ACT I The townspeople scurry by as uniformed soldiers gather at the town square in Seville, Spain. At lunch time, the women who work at the cigarette factory take a break and join the people in the square. Among them is Carmen, a beautiful gypsy, who sings a saucy song about love that obeys no rules. All of the men are infatuated with her except one, Don José, a simple soldier who is awaiting the arrival of his sweet Micaëla. Carmen is accustomed to having all the men focused on her and turns her attention to Don José, the only soldier who is not immediately drawn to her beauty. When it is time for the cigarette women to return to work, Micaëla gives Don José a note from his sick mother urging him to marry Micaëla. However, as soon as he confirms his commitment to Micaëla, everyone rushes to the town square screaming and shouting about a fight that has just broken out at the factory. All evidence shows that Carmen started the fight that injured a fellow worker. Don José is ordered to arrest Carmen and bring her to prison. While he is waiting for the arrest warrant, Carmen flirts with him
and convinces him to let her escape so that they can go dancing together that night. Don José agrees and unties her. However, when the other soldiers return and see what Don José has done, he is arrested for freeing Carmen.
ACT II After Carmen’s escape, she meets with a group of gypsies and soldiers who celebrate by singing and dancing at the tavern of Lillas Pastia. Carmen is told that Don José will be released from prison that evening. While they are celebrating, they hear a parade that is passing by honoring the handsome bullfighter Escamillo. Escamillo sings about the excitement of being a bullfighter as the people cheer him on. He is immediately awestruck by Carmen and although she is impressed with him, she still saves her affection for Don José -after all he bravely risked prison for her. When the crowd departs, two male gypsies ask Carmen to help them with a smuggling job, but she refuses because she is waiting for Don José. Don José arrives and becomes enraged with jealousy after he hears that Carmen has danced for the other soldiers. She then begins to dance for Don José until the bugles announce the
soldiers’ retreat. Carmen accuses Don José of being a coward for choosing to follow orders rather than her. Suddenly, Lieutenant Zuniga arrives at the tavern to see her which throws Don José in a jealous rage. A fight between the two men erupts and Lt. Zuniga is finally handcuffed. Since fighting with an officer is a serious crime, the smugglers encourage Don José to flee with them to the mountains. Don José has no choice but to accept and joins Carmen and the gypsies. ACT III Carmen, Don José, and the gypsy smugglers arrive at their hideout high up in the mountains where Don José reflects on missing his mother and home town. Carmen, who has now fallen out of love with him, taunts him and suggests that he go back home. Carmen joins her two gypsy friends who are telling fortunes with a deck of cards. Although the two friends pull cards of good fortune for themselves, Carmen’s card predicts death. After their departure, Micaëla arrives to find Don José guarding the hideout. She hides when she hears a gun shot fired by Escamillo who is looking for Carmen. After making Don José extremely jealous, Escamillo and Don