Opera Verona

ACT ONE.

The square of Seville with the cigarette factory and a barracks in the background. A young girl, Micaela, makes her way through the crowd and goes up to the guards, wishing to speak to her fiance Don Jose. Sergeant Morales asks her to wait, but she politely refuses: she will come back at the next changing of the guard, which is due soon judging from the sound of a military march. The new squad files in with Don Jose, who confesses to Captain Zuniga that he captivated by his sweet Micaela and is not at all interested in the merry girls who work at the cigarette factory. A bell announces the end of the shift at the factory, and the girls come out where they are met by a group of young men. Among them is Carmen, the beautiful gypsy girl who catches sight of Don Jose and boldly goes up to him singing. Noticing his indifference, she challenges him by dancing a whirling Habanera and throwing a red rose in his face. Micaela comes in to give Don Jose news of his mother, who lives far away. When the girl has left, he pulls the rose out of his jacket and is about to throw it away when he is interrupted by the sound of a quarrel from the factory. Carmen has become involved in Yet another brawl and has injured a girl with a knife. Don Jose is given the task of restoring order and is obliged to arrest Carmen. The gypsy girl, however, skillfully ensnares him with her flirting and manages to escape.

ACT TWO.

Though Lillas Pastia's inn is a refuge for smugglers, it is also frequented by officers, soldiers and gypsies. Carmen, with her friends Mercedes and Frasquita, sings and dances among a group of dragoons. Her most fervent admirer is Captain Zuniga. The 'torero' Escamillo, winner of the Granada bullfight, also arrives at the inn and is immediately attracted to Carmen. Just as the innkeeper is about to close, two smugglers, Duncairo and Remenando come in. They often make use of Carmen to help them in their trade, but this time Carmen refuses. She is waiting for Don Jose, who has been punished for having let her escape. In fact, as soon as he is freed he hurries to the inn, where Carmen dances for him to the accompaniment of castanets. The dancing is interrupted by a bugle sunding the recall. Don Jose prepares to do his duty and return to burracks, but Carmen stands in his way and tries to detain him. When Zuniga with their pistols. Don Jose has no choice but to follow Carmen and her friends.

ACT THREE.

The smugglers' camp is situated strategically between wild precipices. Don Jose and Carmen are alone but their conversation is not of love. Carmen is already thinking of other suiters and her indifference fires Don Jose's jealousy. She tells her own fortune with a pack of cards and sees death, but she defies her fate. Micaela, trembling with fear, appears looking for Don Jose. She calls him name, but he does not answer. Suddenly a shot is heard, the girl runs away and Escamillo appears. He has just narrowly escaped being killed by Jose. The two rivals draw their knives and prepare to fight. Jose is about to strike the torero when Carmen interposes and restrains him. while Jose furiously threatens Carmen, Remendado notices Micaela, who had come to tell Jose that his mother was dying and wished to see her son for the last time. Despite Jose's initial reluctance, they all convince him to go and in the end he leaves with Micaela.

ACT FOUR.

The day of the bullfight. The crowd is waiting in the square of Seville in front of the Arena, cheering the procession of ' toreodores' , ' alquazie', 'picadores' , 'banderilleros' and the ' espada' Escamillo, who appears arm in arm with Carmen. Her friends Mercedes and Frasquita plead with her to run away, as Don Jose is spying on her. Carmen knows this, but nevertheless defies the danger. Jose appears, humbles himself before Carmen and begs her to start a new life with him. Escamillo's victory interrupts the bitter discussion. Carmen Jubilantly rusches towards the torero. When Jose stops her, she brutally, cynically and openly declares her love for the torero. Jose blinded by his mad passion, assaults her and stabs her in the heart. Carmen falls on Carmen's body , cries out to her in desperation and lets himself be arrested.