Carmen | September 2024

Opera in four acts, composed by Bizet to a French libretto by H. Meilhac and L. Halevy.

Carmen, by Bizet. A steamy story of seduction, jealousy and maniacal murder..

Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, 2525 W. Taylorsville Road (5400 South), Taylorsville, UT

Synopsis:

Act 1: Set in Seville, Spain, around 1820. Soldiers stand guard in the town square outside of a cigarette factory. Micaëla, a young woman, comes inquiring about the soldier, Don José and is told that he'll soon arrive for the next shift. She leaves. José's platoon arrives, and he's told of the young woman's inquiry. He identifies her as the woman he loves. Women emerge from the factory on a work break. Carmen, a provocative gypsy, spots José, the only soldier who is ignoring her and determines to seduce him. She sings the famous aria, Habanera, throws a flower at his feet and reenters the factory with the other women. Micaëla returns and shows José his mother's letter wishing him to marry her which he resolves to do. A fight breaks out in the factory for which Carmen is blamed. She is arrested and tied up but persuades José to let her escape and runs away. He is arrested for allowing her to and imprisoned.

Act 2: A month later in a tavern, Carmen and her friends are entertained by the bullfighter, Escamillo, who boastfully tells them of the life of a toreador. He offers love to Carmen but she refuses because her heart is set on José who has just been released from prison. Smugglers enter and plot their next operation urging Carmen to recruit José to their criminal purpose. They leave and José arrives. He professes his love for her showing her the dried up flower he had kept next to his heart since she had thrown it at him in the square. Carmen is unconvinced and requires him to prove it by deserting the army to stay with her. They are interrupted by José's commanding officer, Zuniga, who orders him back to the barracks. A fight ensues between José and Zuniga which leaves José with no alternative but to join Carmen and the smugglers.

Act 3: José is encamped with the smugglers in the mountains. He gases longingly at the valley where his mother lives. Carmen jeers at him saying he is not cut out for a smuggler's life and tells him to go home. The gypsy women lay out fortune cards that seem to foretell Carmen's death then leave to go distract the customs guards so the smuggling operation can go unnoticed. José is left guarding the camp. Micaëla has courageously made her way to the encampment having come to save José. Escamillo also appears saying he has come to join his lover, Carmen. In a jealous rage, José pulls out his knife and the two fight. The smugglers return, stop the fight and find Micaëla hiding. She tells José that his mother is dying. He agrees to go home but warns Carmen that they will meet again.

Act 4: The following month, at the square in front of the bullfight arena, Escamillo who is now Carmen's lover, is welcomed by spectators. Escamillo enters the arena but Carmen remains behind in the square. José appears and implores Carmen to make a new life with him. She refuses him saying she will remain free at all cost and throwing away the ring that he once gave her. A cheer is heard from the arena as Escamillo slays the bull. Unable to control his rage, José stabs her to death with a dagger.

Approximate Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes, with 2 intermissions.

CAST:

Lyrical Opera Theater engages local, internationally acclaimed, seasoned performers as well as young and upcoming talent.

Carmen, a Romani-girl:			Mezzo-soprano
Don José, Corporal of Dragoons:			Tenor
Escamillo, Toreador:			Baritone
Micaëla, a village girl:			soprano
Zuniga, a lieutenant:			Bass
Moralès, a corporal:			Baritone
Frasquita, a Romani:			Soprano
Mercédès:			Mezzo-soprano
Lillas Pastia, an inn-keeper:			spoken part
Le Remendado, a smuggler:			Tenor
Le Dancaïre, a smuggler:			Baritone
Chorus:			SATB

DETAILED ARTIST'S INFO: