World premiere: 3 March 1875, Opera-Comique, Paris
First performance in Russia: 16 February 1878, the Italian Opera Company,
Bolshoi (Stone) Theatre, St Petersburg
First performance at the
Mariinsky Theatre: 30 September 1885, St Petersburg
Premiere of this
production: 30 April 2005, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg
Running time: 4 hours 20 minutes
The performance has three
intervals
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
A square in Seville
In the guard house, Morales and
his soldiers are discussing the passers-by. Micaлla arrives, looking for the
corporal Don Jose. Morales explains that Jose is in another company that is due
to take over the guard. Micaela decides not to wait and departs. The officer
Zuniga and Jose lead in the new guard, accompanied by a horde of children.
Morales tells Jose that Micaela was asking for him. Zuсiga, leader of the new
guard, asks Josй about the women who work in the factory nearby, but Jose says
he pays them no attention.
It is break-time at the factory and the women come
out to smoke and flirt with the young men who have been waiting for them. Carmen
is at the centre of everyoneґs attention. She talks of love (Lґamour est un
oiseau rebelle), that it is elusive and inconstant and that she will only love a
man she herself chooses even if he does not love her in return. The bell rings,
signalling the break is over. Carmen, desirous of catching Josйґs attention,
throws him a flower. Enraptured, he quickly hides it.
Micaela returns,
bringing Jose a letter from his mother in which she asks him to return to marry
Micaela.
Uproar suddenly breaks out in the factory and the women pour into
the square, accusing Carmen of drawing a knife on her friend in a quarrel. Jose
is sent to question Carmen, but she refuses to answer. Zuniga orders Jose to
take her to prison. Carmen starts to captivate Jose and tries to persuade him to
release her. Forbidden to speak, she sings, contriving to arrange a rendezvous
with him at Lillas Pastiaґs tavern. He agrees to free her only if she will love
him. She promises to do so, Josй frees her and is subsequently himself arrested.
ACT II
Lillas Pastiaґs tavern
Carmen, Frasquita and
Mercйdиs are entertaining gypsies and soldiers. Zuniga tells Carmen that Jose,
demoted and jailed for a month for aiding her escape, has just been
released.
A crowd is heard outside acclaiming the victorious toreador
Escamillo, who enters followed by a throng of admirers. He returns Zunigaґs
toast, drinking to his health, and describes the exhilaration of fighting a
bull. Carmen immediately captures his attention but she shows no interest.
Everyone leaves.
The smugglers Remendado and Dancairo arrive; they are about
to depart and ask Carmen, Frasquita and Mercedes to help them carry their wares.
Carmen refuses: she is in love and waiting for Jose. Mockingly, the smugglers
suggest Jose joins their band.
Don Jose arrives. Carmen dances for him. When
a signal is heard in the distance, summoning him back to his barracks he
prepares to leave. Furious, Carmen accuses him of not loving her. In response he
describes his passion and how, while in prison, he treasured the flower she
threw at him when they first met. As proof, Carmen insists he deserts and goes
with her to the mountains. Zuсiga unexpectedly appears; he has come to meet
Carmen. When he sees Jose he orders him back to the barracks. Zuniga and Jose
fight over Carmen. The smugglers run in and separate them; then they tie up
Zuniga and Dancairo shoots him. Having refused to obey orders, Jose realises he
has no choice other than to join the smugglers.
ACT III
In the mountains
The exhausted smugglers are
examining their goods. They have stopped for a short rest. Carmen and Jose are
there too. Carmen senses that Jose would be prepared to kill her if she left
him.
Frasquita and Mercedes read their fortunes with cards. They see a
prosperous future. Carmen joins them. But however much she shuffles the cards,
only death is foretold.
Dancaпro and Remendado return. The gypsy women leave,
having been instructed to distract the customs officers who are blocking the
smugglersґ path. Jose is left to guard the contraband goods.
Having overcome
her fear, Micaela arrives. She is looking for Jose. A shot frightens her and she
hides. It was Jose firing at an intruder – Escamillo. The toreador explains
that he is pursuing Carmen, having heard that she no longer loves her soldier.
The enraged Jose reveals himself and the rivals start to fight. Carmen stops
them. Escamillo thanks her and invites everyone to his next bullfight in Seville
and leaves. Crazed with jealousy, Jose threatens Carmen.
The smugglers find
Micaлla in her hiding place. She has come to beg Josй to return to his mother.
Carmen urges him to go. Micaela then reveals that Joseґs mother is dying and
wants to forgive him. He agrees to accompany Micaela. Escamillo can be heard in
the distance.
ACT IV
Outside a bull-ring in Seville
A crowd has gathered
outside the bull-ring prior to the bullfight. As they arrive, the participants
of the corrida receive a rapturous reception. Escamillo appears, with Carmen in
his wake. Frasquita and Mercedes warn Carmen that Josй is following her, hidden
in the crowd. However, she decides to wait and talk to him. All depart to watch
the bullfight. Jose appears and pleads with her to return to him. She remains
unyielding. She showers him with insults, provoking him. The crowd ecstatically
greets Escamillo. Her rapture over the toreador makes Carmen betray her new
love. She throws the ring Josй gave her in his face and heads towards the arena.
Mad from suffering and humiliation he plunges a dagger into her.
The crowd
rejoice at the toreadorґs victory.