CARMEN
Sponsored by
Photo by John Fitzgerald
September 23 and 30 at 8pm
September 25 at 2pm
By Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy based on the novel by Prosper Mérimée
First performed on March 3, 1875 at the Opéra-Comique, Paris
L'amour est un oiseau rebelle
ENRICHMENT
Lunch & Listen | September 7, 2011 | 12 noon
A collaboration with WUOL Louisville Public Media, produced in front of a live audience, featuring musical excerpts from Carmen with interviews and commentaries by David Roth.
Louisville Public Media | 619 South Fourth Street
RSVP: Kate Kleinert at 502.587.8681
ARTISTIC TEAM
Director: Kristine McIntyre
Conductor: Joe Mechavich
Carmen: Tara Venditti
Don Jose: Scott Piper
Escamillo: Michael Mayes
Place: Seville Spain
Act I – A square in Seville with a cigarette factory & guard house
The soldiers watch the comings and goings of people in the square (Sur la place, Chacun passe). Micaela enters looking for a corporal by the name of Don José. Sergeant Morales tells her that Don José belongs to a different company but asks her to wait with them until Jose arrives. She declines the offer and runs away. A trumpet is heard signaling the changing of the guard who enters accompanied by local street urchins. Don José is with this relief guard. José meets with Lieutenant Zuniga, and tells him that the cigarette girls will be returning after lunch. He also tells Zuniga that he has no eyes for these girls, only for Micaela, a 17 year old orphan being raised by his mother. The cigarette factory bell rings and a crowd gathers to wait for the arrival of the girls (La cloche a sonne). Jose is not interested as the girls sing their seductive song. The crowd asks for Carmen (La Carmencita) who appears and comments on the fickleness of love (L’amour est un oiseau rebelle – The Habanera). Intrigued by José’s lack of interest, Carmen throws a flower at him and goes into the cigarette factory. As José picks up the flower, Micaela returns bringing money and a message from his mother (Parle-moi de ma mere). In her letter, José’s mother urges him to marry Micaela, who leaves as he is reading. Suddenly there is a shout from the factory and Zuniga sends in José to determine the cause. As the girls stream out of the factory, José appears with Carmen who has apparently stabbed another worker. When Zuniga questions her, Carmen only answers with nonsensical humming. Zuniga orders José to tie Carmen’s hands. While Zuniga is finishing the paperwork, Carmen urges José to let her go because he is now in love with her (Pres des ramparts de Seville). He gives in to her and loosens the ropes. When he begins to lead her off to prison, she shoves him and runs off.
Act II – Lillas Pastia’s tavern
Carmen and her friends, Frasquita and Mercedes, sing of the joys of gypsy life (Les tringles des sistres tintaient). The tavern is full of soldiers, including Zuniga, who flirt with the girls. Carmen discovers from Zuniga that Jose has finished his prison sentence. Escamillo the matador enters the tavern with his entourage and sings of his victory in the bullring and in love (Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre – The Toreador Song). Escamillo makes advances to Carmen who says she is not currently available. Lillas Pastia is closing so Escamillo leaves as does Zuniga who also wishes to share Carmen’s company. She says she is waiting for Don Jose to arrive. The smugglers, Dancairo and Remendado, emerge from the shadows and urge the girls to join them on their latest smuggling adventure (Nous avons en tete une affaire). Carmen says she cannot join them as she is waiting for her lover. Don José’s voice is heard in the distance. As the smugglers leave, they urge Carmen to bring Jose along with her. José enters the tavern and declares his love for Carmen who then does a seductive dance for him. During her dance, a trumpet is heard calling retreat and José says he must return to his regiment. Carmen is furious and is only quieted when he tells her of his prison life and how his only hope lay within the flower she gave him (La fleur que tu m’avais jetee). Carmen tells Jose that if he really loved her, he’d desert the army and go into the mountains with her. Zuniga bursts into the tavern and orders José back to the barracks. José refuses and the two begin to fight when the smugglers appear, drawn by the fight. Zuniga is disarmed and removed from the tavern. José realizes he must now join Carmen and her friends.
Act III – A mountain pass
The gypsies appear and begin to set up camp. José is struggling with his deserter status but still loves Carmen. Carmen hints that she is growing tired of José. Frasquita and Mercedes spread out their cards and Carmen joins them to read their fortunes. Frasquita finds love, Mercedes finds wealth, but Carmen sees only death (En vain pout eviter). The smugglers leave for another mission leaving Jose to watch the camp. Michaela appears looking for José (Je dis que rien ne m’epouvante) but hides when he confronts an intruder. Escamillo has come looking for Carmen. He and José fight and when it appears that Escamillo may lose, the smugglers appear disrupting the fight. Escamillo invites the entire group to his next bullfight in Seville, with a special look toward Carmen. As Escamillo leaves, Micaela is discovered and begs José to return with her to see his dying mother. Carmen tells him he should go, and José declares they will meet again (Dut-il m’en couter la vie).
Act IV – A public square in Seville, outside the bullring
The crowd has gathered to watch the procession of the matador and cheer Escamillo. Escamillo appears along with Carmen whom he embraces (Si tu m’aimes, Carmen). Carmen is warned by Frasquita and Mercedes that José has been seen in the crowd and is looking for her. As the bullfight begins, Carmen remains outside the ring only to be confronted by Jose. He pleads with her to return to him but she refuses. As she hears sounds from the bullring suggesting Escamillo’s victory, Carmen throws the ring given to her by José. He stabs her as the crowd leaves the bullring.
