Georges Bizet’s

SYNOPSIS

Act I In a square in , soldiers survey the crowd. A young woman approaches, asking for Don José. Moralès tells her that he will arrive soon. Sorry to see her go, the soldiers resume their watch.

When Don José arrives, Moralès tells him that he has had a visitor. Don José explains to his captain, Zuniga, that she was Micaëla, his childhood sweetheart. Zuniga is more interested in ogling the women from the cigarette factory, who saunter out for a break. Among them is Carmen, who toys with her many admirers ( : “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” ). As the women return to work, Carmen throws a flower at the one man who has ignored her, Don José. Micaëla returns with a letter from Don José’s mother, which urges him to marry Micaëla ( Duet: “Parle-moi de ma mère” ).

There is uproar in the cigarette factory, and Zuniga asks Don José to investigate. Carmen has fought with and wounded another factory worker. Don José ties Carmen’s hands as Zuniga goes to write a prison order. Carmen promises to meet Don José for a private rendezvous later if he lets her escape ( : “Près des remparts de Séville” ). Spellbound, he agrees. With Don José’s help, Carmen throws her captors into confusion and escapes.

Act II At an inn, Carmen and her friends dance and sing a gypsy song ( “Les tringles des sistres tintaient” ). Zuniga mentions that Don José is out of jail, where he has served two months for helping Carmen escape. The popular matador Escamillo passes by in a procession and is soon smitten with Carmen’s beauty. After the inn has closed for the night, plan their smuggling activities ( Quintet: “Nous avons en tête une affaire” ). Don José shows up, and Carmen is overjoyed to see him. When he hears the bugles calling him back to his quarters, Don José prepares to go. Carmen is furious, but Don José swears his devotion. Zuniga returns, hoping for a tryst with Carmen, and Don José angrily draws his sword against his captain. Don José has no choice but to join Carmen and the gypsies.

Act III The gypsies set up camp in the mountains. After several months together, all is not well between Carmen and Don José. Carmen and her friends tell fortunes with a deck of cards. Carmen’s cards predict death— first for her, then for Don José. ( “En vain pour éviter les réponses amères” ). She deals again, but the message is the same.

Micaëla comes into the now-deserted camp, sent by Don José’s mother to persuade him to give up his shameful life ( “Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” ). She hides when Escamillo arrives in search of Carmen. When Don José learns of Escamillo’s amorous intent, he pulls out a dagger. The two men fight until Carmen stops them. Promising to finish the fight later, Escamillo leaves. When Micaëla is discovered, she begs Don José to return with her. He agrees only when he learns that his mother is dying. He warns Carmen that their paths will cross again.

Washington National Opera www.dc-opera.org 202.295.2400 · 800.US.OPERA

Act IV The procession into the Seville arena begins. Carmen swears that she has never loved another man as much as she loves Escamillo. Carmen’s friends see Don José lurking in the crowd, and she stays behind to face him. Don José asks her to start a new life with him, but Carmen insists that everything is over between them and tells him that she loves Escamillo ( Duet: “C’est toi!—C’est moi!” ). Beside himself with rage, Don José stabs her as the crowd inside cheers the triumphant matador.

Washington National Opera www.dc-opera.org 202.295.2400 · 800.US.OPERA