A Guide to Bizet's Carmen

Set in sunny Seville, Bizet’s Carmen is the story of the free-spirited Carmen and the tragic love triangle between her, the gullible soldier Don José, and the handsome bullfighter Escamillo. Although it faced criticism at its premiere Carmen has gone on to become one of the most recognizable and beloved operas of all time. Whether you love the opera already or want the inside track before you see Carmen for the first time, this is the perfect guide for you. 

A brief history of Carmen:

Carmen was written by French composer George Bizet (1838- 1875) and premiered at the prestigious Opera Comique in 1875. The libretto, or story and lyrics, was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy and is an adaptation of Prosper Mérimée’s popular novella of the time, Carmen. 

Written in the opera comique style – a style of French opera that includes speaking between songs- the premiere of Carmen was a tragic failure. Critics were appalled, calling the work immoral and vulgar. A sexually free woman smoking cigarettes was bad enough, but commoners, smugglers, and fistfighting soldiers taking center stage was just too much for the elite audiences of the 19th century to take.

Tragically, Bizet died suddenly on the night of the 33rd performance at the age of only 36. Although he died believing Carmen was a failure, a second staging soon after his death revived the opera, launching it to lasting fame and success.

Bizet infused Carmen with authentic Catalonian sounds and rhythms, resulting in a vibrant score that evokes the hot, dusty alleys of 19th-century Seville. This atmospheric and undeniably catchy music has transcended the opera world, becoming a popular choice for film and TV soundtracks, including Disney/Pixar’s Up, The Simpsons, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Recognize this? 

Key Characters:

Carmen (mezzo-soprano): The beautiful and free-spirited gypsy who occasionally dabbles in smuggling and deadly love triangles. 

Don José (tenor):  The naive and jealous soldier who risks it all for Carmen’s love.

Escamillo (baritone): The handsome bullfighter, also in love with Carmen.

Micaëla (soprano):  Don José’s kind and pious childhood sweetheart he promised to marry. 

Frasquita and Mercedes (soprano/mezzo-soprano): Carmen’s friends

Zuniga (bass): José’s senior officer

Remendado and Dancairo (tenor/bass): Carmen’s smuggler friends 

Brief Summary: 

Act 1 

Outside a tobacco factory.

Soldiers are relaxing in the town square, Don José’s childhood sweetheart, Micaëla, wanders through looking for Don José to give him a letter from his mother. Not finding him she leaves.

Meanwhile, Don José arrives for duty as the factory women pour into the town square for their break, among them is the beautiful Carmen. The women begin flirting with the soldiers and Carmen draws their attention by singing about the fleeting and rebellious nature of love in her famous ”Habanera.” She teases the soldiers and decides to throw a flower to the shy Don José. He’s instantly infatuated.  

As the women return to work Micaëla returns to the square to deliver the letter and a kiss from his mother to Don José. In the letter, his mother asks him to return home to marry Micaëla. In a moment of passion, Don José shakes off his infatuation with Carmen and vows to marry the kind Micaëla. 

Just then, the women of the factory pour back onto the streets in a hurry, Carmen has attacked another woman with a knife. The head guard, Zuniga, orders Don José to tie Carmen’s hands behind her back and keep guard while he leaves to get a prison warrant. Alone with Don José, Carmen uses her charms to trick him, promising to run away with him to Lillas Pastia’s Inn (Seguidilla). Mesmerized, he loosens her rope, and she escapes without him. When Zuniga returns, Don José is arrested for dereliction of duty. 

Act 2 

A few months later in Lillas Pastia’s Inn

At the local inn, Carmen and her friends are entertaining the officers when Carmen learns that Don Jose has been released. Meanwhile, a rowdy chorus announces the arrival of the great bullfighter Escamillo (“Vivat, vivat le Toréro”). When he enters he sets his sights on Carmen and shows off to the crowd with his famous ”Toreador song.” Much to his dismay, Carmen ignores him.

When the crowd leaves, Carmen, Frasquita, Mercédès, and the smugglers Dancaïre and Remendado discuss what to do with their latest stash of contraband in a rousing quintet (“Nous avons en tête une affaire”).

 As her friends leave, Don José walks in and Carmen pulls him aside for a private dance but they are interrupted by the sound of bugles calling Don José back to duty. When he tries to leave, she makes fun of him and heartbroken Don José pulls out the rose she had thrown to him in the square to prove his devotion to her (”La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”). She demands he run away with her, but he refuses. When Zuniga returns, a jealous Don José attacks him and he is forced to join Carmen’s gang of smugglers.

Act 3 

Somewhere in the mountains 

In the mountains, Carmen grows bored with Don José, teasing him to return to his mother. Meanwhile, Micaëla arrives determined to rescue Don José from the wild Carmen (”Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante”), but she’s scared off by a gunshot that Don José has fired at a stranger approaching the camp.

The stranger turns out to be the famous bullfighter Escamillo who has arrived to declare his love for Carmen. Jealous as ever, Don José starts a fight with Escamillo. Micaëla then enters to convince Don José to come back to his village. He refuses to leave Carmen. As a last resort, she shares that his mother is dying. Reluctantly he agrees to go with her, vowing to return to Carmen. 

Act 4 

Outside the bullfighting ring 

A crowd waits outside an amphitheater for the bullfight to begin. Carmen enters with Escamaillo and they declare their passionate love for each other (“Si tu m’aimes, Carmen”). As he enters the ring, Carmen’s friends come to warn her that Don José has arrived and is looking for her. She defiantly declares that she isn’t afraid of him and goes to speak with him alone. Don José begs pitifully for Carmen to take him back, but she mocks him, throwing the ring he gave her on the ground. BIG SPOILER ALERT – As Carmen turns away to enter the arena Don José stabs her in a passionate rage. Realizing what he has done, he cries over her body and as the crowd leaves the arena he confesses to killing her. The drama! 

Famous Arias from Carmen 

 

Mezzo Aria – L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (A.k.a the Habanera)

Anita Rachvelishvili sings Carmen’s Habanera in a Teatro alla Scala production. 

Sung by Carmen, this Act 1 aria is the most famous piece from the opera and possibly one of the most recognized arias in pop culture. In this aria, Carmen is teasing the soldiers in the square, warning them never to fall in love with her, while simultaneously making them all fall in love with her. The title translates to ”Love is a rebellious bird.” Carmen sings about the rebellious nature of love – no one can tame it and it doesn’t follow the rules. The more someone wants her the less she wants them, but when they don’t want her she loves them. 

In this aria, Bizet lays out several key ideas and musical themes that will pop up throughout the opera.

Baritone Aria – Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre ( A.K.A the Toreador Song)

Erwin Schrott sings the Toreador song in a Teatro alla Scala production.

Sung by the great bullfighter Escamillo in Act 2, this fantastic aria is second only to the Habanera in fame. In this aria, Escamillo has just walked into Lillas Pastia’s Inn surrounded by adoring fans.  He entertains the crowd with tales of his bullfighting prowess, hoping to impress Carmen. 

Bizet’s music perfectly captures the feeling of a Spanish bullfighter. It’s often referred to as the ”Toreador Song” because of the catchy refrain ”Toreador, en garde” that’s repeated throughout the piece. 

Tenor Aria – La fleur que tu m’avais jetée (A.K.A the Flower Aria)

Jonas Kaufmann sings the Flower Aria from a Teatro alla Scala production.

Sung by Don José in Act 2, this aria is bursting with drama, and when performed by someone with a voice as beautiful as Jonas Kaufmann’s, there won’t be a dry eye in the audience. 

In this aria, Don José lays his heart on the line for Carmen. The title translates to, ”the flower that you threw me.”  Don José presents Carmen with the flower that she had tossed him in the square. Don José is pouring his heart out to Carmen, but does she love him back? 

Soprano Aria – Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante 

Soprano Nicole Car sings Micaëla’s aria in an outdoor production from Opera Australia. 

Sung by Micaëla in Act 3, this gorgeous soprano aria is marked by gorgeously long lines. In this aria, Micaëla is approaching Don José’s camp. Afraid, she begins to reassure herself.

The title of the aria means, ”I say that nothing will frighten me.”  Despite her fear, Micaëla vows to confront the ”vile woman” who has led her beloved Don José astray, revealing her true courage and pious beliefs.

Fun Facts

Planning to see Carmen soon? Impress your friends with these fascinating tidbits:

• The cigarette factory in Act 1 is based on a real 19th-century factory in Seville.
• Bizet and his star singer, Célestine Galli-Marié, worked tirelessly on the Habanera, rewriting it over 13 times.
• The original Carmen actress quit upon learning she would have to die on stage—how unladylike!

Can’t wait to see the opera live? You can watch brilliant productions of Carmen anytime, from anywhere, on Marquee TV.