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CARMEN

RE-IMAGINED

In this intimate version of Bizet's Carmen, scored for four voices with piano accompaniment, with a new English script by Director Bronwen Stephens-Harding, Rogue Opera presents a compact production re-imagined to bring you the essence of the story, the complexities of the characters and the beauty of the music.

OPERA SYNOPSIS

MEET THE CAST

The opera is sung in the original French, with English dialogue.
Follow the story below and click on the V icon for translations of the lyrics.

PART ONE

ACT I

The opera opens in a square in Seville in front of the cigarette factory, which is being guarded by two soldiers, Moralès and José. They observe the passers-by.

Sur la place ...

Micaëla arrives to seek out José, but encounters Moralès who flirts with her.

At the change of the guard

MORALÈS
He’ll be here,
he'll be here when the new guard
comes to relieve the old guard.
But while you wait for him, lovely child,
will you take the trouble
to step inside for a moment?
MICAËLA
Inside with you?
MORALÈS
Inside with us.
MICAËLA
No, no. Many thanks, captain, sir.
MORALÈS
Don't be afraid to come in, my dear,
I promise you we’ll show your dear self all due respect.
MICAËLA
I don't doubt it; all the same
I'll come back, that's wiser.
I'll come back when the new guard
comes to relieve the old guard.
MORALÈS
You must stay,
for the new guard is coming
to relieve the old guard.
You'll stay!
MICAËLA
Indeed I'll not!
MORALÈS
You'll stay!
MICAËLA
Indeed I'll not! No, no, no!
Goodbye, captain, sir!
MORALÈS
On the square everyone comes by,
everyone comes and goes;
funny sort of people these!

Micaëla escapes from Moralès, concealing herself as she waits for José to arrive, and witnessing his first encounter with Carmen.

Carmen teases the soldiers, singing of love's fickle nature.

Habanera

When will I love you?
My word, I don't know.

Perhaps never… perhaps tomorrow;
but not today, that's certain.

Love is a rebellious bird
that no one can tame,
and you summon it in vain
if it wants to refuse.

Nothing moves it, no threat nor plea,
one man speaks,
the other keeps quiet;
and it's the other I prefer:
he's said nothing, but it’s him I like.

Love is a gypsy child,
it has never heard of law.
If you don't love me, I love you;
but if I love you, watch out!

The bird you thought
to catch unawares
beat its wings and flew away –
love's far away,
and you can wait for it:
but you wait no longer –
and there it is!

All around you, quickly, quickly,
it comes, it goes, then it returns —
you think you can hold it,
it evades you,
you think to evade it,
it holds you fast.

Carmen and Moralès leave. Micaëla approaches José. She brings a message from his mother.

The message

MICAËLA
Your mother was coming out of the chapel with me,
and it was then she said,
as she kissed me,

“You will go to the city;
it's not far.
Once in Seville you'll look for my son,
my José, my boy.
“And you'll tell him that his mother
thinks night and day of her absent one,
that she grieves and hopes,
that she forgives and waits.

“All that, little one,
you'll tell him from me, won't you;
and this kiss that I'm giving you
you'll give him from me.”

JOSÉ
A kiss from my mother!

MICAËLA
A kiss for her son!

JOSÉ
A kiss from my mother!

MICAËLA
A kiss for her son!
José, I give it to you as I promised.

José is overwhelmed by memories of his mother and his home.

Ma mère

JOSÉ
You'll tell her that her son
loves and reveres her
and that today he is repentant;
he wants his mother back there
to be pleased with him.
All this, my sweet,
you'll tell her from me, won't you,
and this kiss that I give you
you'll give her from me.

MICAËLA
Yes, I promise you;
from her son José
I shall give it as I have promised.

JOSÉ
I see my mother!
Yes, I see my village again!
O memories of days past,
sweet memories of home!
Sweet memories of home!
O precious memories!
O memories!

MICAËLA
He sees his mother again!
He sees his village!
O memories of the past!
O precious memories!

JOSÉ
You fill my heart with
strength and courage.
O precious memories!

MICAËLA
Memories of home!
You fill his heart with
strength and courage.
O precious memories!

JOSÉ
I see my mother again,
I see my village again!
Precious memories,
Precious memories of home!

MICAËLA
He sees his mother again,
He sees his village again!
Precious memories,
Precious memories of home!

JOSÉ
You fill my heart with strength and courage.
O memories,
o precious memories!
I see my village again!

MICAËLA
You fill his heart with
strength and courage.
O memories,
o precious memories!

JOSÉ
O precious memories!
You give me all my courage.
O memories of home!

MICAËLA
You give him all his courage.
O memories of home!

Micaëla leaves as José reads the letter from his mother. His contemplations are disturbed by Carmen rushing in, holding a knife. Moralès follows, ordering her arrest.

Tra la la

Left alone in José ‘s custody, Carmen tries to persuade him to free her.

Seguidilla – Près des remparts de Séville…

CARMEN
By the ramparts of Seville,
at my friend Lillas Pastia's place,
I'm going to dance the seguidilla and drink manzanilla.
I'm going to my friend Lillas Pastia’s!

Yes, but all alone one gets bored,
and real pleasures are for two.
So, to keep me company,
I shall take my lover!
My lover... he's gone to the devil:
I showed him the door yesterday.
My poor heart, so consolable…
my heart is as free as the air.
I have suitors by the dozen,
but they are not to my liking.
Here we are at the week’s end;
who wants to love me?
I will love him.
Who wants my soul? It's for the taking!
You've come at the right moment!
I have hardly time to wait, for with my new lover...

By the ramparts of Seville,
at my friend Lillas Pastia's place,
I'm going to dance the seguidilla and drink manzanilla.
Yes, I'm going to my friend Lillas Pastia's!

JOSÉ
Be quiet! I told you not to talk to me!

CARMEN
I'm not talking to you, I'm singing to myself,
I'm singing to myself; and I'm thinking...
it’s not forbidden to think!
I'm thinking of a certain officer,
I’m thinking of a certain officer…
who loves me,
and whom I, in turn,
yes I, in turn, I could really love!

JOSÉ
Carmen!

CARMEN
My officer's not a captain,
not even a lieutenant,
he's only a corporal;
but that's enough for a gypsy girl
and I'll content myself with him.

JOSÉ
Carmen, I'm like a drunken man,
if I yield, if I give in,
you'll keep your promise?
Ah! if I love you, Carmen,
you will love me?

CARMEN
Yes...

JOSÉ
At Lillas Pastia's...

CARMEN
We'll dance the seguidilla
while we drink manzanilla.

JOSÉ
You promise!

CARMEN
Ah….By the ramparts of Seville,
at my friend Lillas Pastia's place,
we will dance the seguidilla
and drink manzanilla.

Carmen leads José away.

ACT II

At Lillas Pastia's tavern, where two gypsies, Frasquita and Dancaïre, are catching up and gossiping about Carmen, who joins them, ready for a night of drinking and dancing.

Chanson Bohème

FRASQUITA
The sistrums' rods were jingling
with a metallic ring,
and at this strange music
the Zingarellas leapt up.

The tambourines kept up their beat
and the frenzied guitars
played under persistent hands,
the same song, the same refrain,
the same song, the same refrain!

CARMEN
The gypsy boys, with all their might,
made their instruments rage,
and this deafening clamour
bewitched the Zingaras!

Beneath the rhythm of the song,
Beneath the rhythm of the song
passionate, wild, fired with excitement,
they let themselves be carried away,
intoxicated, by the whirlwind! …

Carmen joins José for a drink.

INTERVAL ONE

PART Two

Carmen and José are together in the tavern. Frasquita excitedly announces the arrival of Escamillo.

Votre Toast

I can return your toast, my friends,
for the ladies — yes — and bullfighters
get along well;
delighting in combat!
The ring is packed, it's a holiday,
the ring is full from top to bottom.
The spectators, losing their wits,
yell at each other at the tops of their voices!

Exclamations, cries and uproar
carried to the pitch of fury!
For this is the fiesta of courage,
this is the fiesta of the stouthearted!

Let's go! On guard!
Ah! Toreador, on guard!
And remember, yes,
remember as you fight,
that two dark eyes are watching you,
that love awaits you!
Toreador, love awaits you!

Suddenly everyone falls silent;
ah — what's happening?
No more shouts, this is the moment!

The bull comes bounding
out of the toril!
He charges, comes in, strikes!
A horse rolls over,
dragging down a picador!

"Ah! Bravo, toro!" roars the crowd;
the bull turns, comes back,
comes back and strikes again!

Shaking his banderillas,
maddened with rage, he runs about!
The ring is covered with blood!
Men jump clear, leap the barriers.
It's your turn now!

Let's go! On guard!
Ah! Toreador, on guard!

And remember, yes,
remember as you fight,
that two dark eyes are watching you,
that love awaits you!
Toreador, love awaits you!

Carmen and José remain alone together in the tavern, and Carmen dances for him.

Je vais danser…

CARMEN
I am going to dance in your honour,
and you will see, my lord,
just how I can accompany my dance!
Sit down there, Don José. I'll begin!

La, la, la…

JOSÉ
Wait a little, Carmen,
only for a moment, stop!
CARMEN
And why, if you please?
JOSÉ
I think, over there...
yes, those are our bugles
sounding Retreat!

JOSÉ
Can't you hear them?
CARMEN
Bravo! Bravo! I was trying in vain;
it's dismal dancing without
an orchestra.
And long live music that
drops from the skies!

JOSÉ
You didn't understand me, Carmen,
it's Retreat;
I must get back to the barracks
for roll—call.

CARMEN
For roll—call!
Ah! Really I was too stupid!
I went out of my way,
and took the trouble,
yes took the trouble
to amuse Monsieur!
I sang! I danced!
I believed, God forgive me,
That in a little while more
I would love him!

JOSÉ
It pains me to go,
for never has a woman,
never has a woman before you
No, never has any women before
so deeply troubled my soul!

CARMEN
Ta ra ta ta, my God! It's the Retreat!
Ta ra ta ta, “I'm going to be late!"
Oh my God, oh my God!
It’s the retreat!
He loses his wits, he rushes off,
and that is his love!

JOSÉ
So you don't believe in my love?

CARMEN
Of course not!

JOSÉ
Very well! You shall hear me out!

CARMEN
I don't want to listen to anything!

JOSÉ
You shall hear me!

CARMEN
You will make yourself late!

JOSÉ
You shall hear me!

CARMEN
No! No! No, No!

JOSÉ
Yes, you shall hear me!
I insist, Carmen!

José tells Carmen of the love – and torment – he has felt since their first meeting, when she threw him a flower.

La Fleur

The flower that you threw to me
stayed with me in my prison.
Withered and dried up,
that flower always kept its sweet perfume;
and for hours at a time,
with my eyes closed,
I became drunk with its smell
and in the night I used to see you!
I took to cursing you,
detesting you,
asking myself
why did destiny
have to throw her across my path?
Then I accused myself of blasphemy,
and felt within myself,
I felt but one desire,
one desire, one hope:
to see you again, Carmen,
to see you again!
For you had only to appear,
only to throw a glance my way,
to take possession of my whole being,
O my Carmen, and I was your chattel!
Carmen, I love you!

Carmen tells José he would join the free, gypsy life if he loved her, but he cannot give up his honourv and his duty.

Là-bas, là-bas dans la montagne

CARMEN
Yes. There, over there,
into the mountains,
away over there you'd follow me.
On your horse you'd take me
and like a daredevil,
across the country,
up behind you on your horse,
you’d take me!

There, over there, into the mountains,
Away over there you'd follow me,
You’d follow me…..if you loved me!
And you'd not depend on anyone;
there'd be no officer you had to obey,
and no Retreat sounding
to tell a lover it’s time to go!

The open sky, the wandering life,
for your country the whole universe;
for law, your own free will,
and above all, that intoxicating thing:
Freedom! Freedom!

There, over there, into the mountains
There, over there, if you love me...
There, over there you’ll follow me,
on your horse you’ll take me!

JOSÉ
Ah! Carmen, alas! Stop it! Have pity!

CARMEN
On your horse you’d take me and
like a daredevil across the country,
yes, you’d take me, if you loved me!

JOSÉ
Alas, alas, Carmen
have pity, o my God!

CARMEN
Yes, isn’t it so…
there, over there you will follow me,
you will love me….
there you will take me!

JOSÉ
Ah be quiet, be quiet.

JOSÉ
Carmen, I beg you! Listen!

CARMEN
No, I don't love you any more!
Go! I hate you! Farewell!

JOSÉ
Very well, so be it...farewell,
farewell for ever!

Moralès comes looking for Carmen and is threatened by a jealous José, precipitating a fight. Moralès is subdued and tied up. José now has no choice but to throw in his lot with Carmen and Frasquita and join the wandering gypsy life.

La vie errante ...

Ah! Your words are not gallant,
but…. no matter!
Go. You'll take to it
when you see how fine
the wandering life is;

the whole world your domain,
your own free will for law,
and above all that intoxicating thing:
Freedom! Freedom!

Follow us across the countryside,
come with us into the mountains,
come with us
and you'll take to it there
when you see, away over there,
how fine is the roving life;
For your country, the whole universe,
your own free will for law!
And above all, that intoxicating thing:
Freedom! Freedom!

Follow us across the countryside
come with us to the mountains
follow us and you’ll take to it
when you see how fine it is,
the wandering life
For your country, the whole universe,
your own free will for law!
And above all, that intoxicating thing:
Freedom! Freedom!

As Moralès struggles to escape, he lunges at José, who stabs and wounds him fatally. Carmen, Frasquita and José flee.

INTERVAL TWO

PART THREE

ACT III
Carmen and José are in a mountain camp with the gypsies, Dancaïre and Frasquita.

Notre métier est bon…

Listen, friend, listen,
fortune lies over there,
but take care along the way,
and watch your step!
Take care!
Our occupation is a good one
but to carry it out you must have
a brave soul!
And the danger, it’s above, it’s below,
it’s everywhere, but no matter!
We go forward without care
for the torrent,
not caring for the torrent,
or the storm,
Not caring about the soldier
who's waiting for us over there,
and watching for us —
we go forward without a care!

Dancaïre and Frasquita seek their future fortune in the cards. Carmen, too, deals a hand to see her fate.

Card Trio

DANCAÏRE/ FRASQUITA
Shuffle! Cut!
Good, that's that!
Three cards here... four there!

And now speak, my lovelies,
give us news of the future;
tell us who's going to betray us,
tell us who's going to love us!
Speak! Speak!
DANCAÏRE
Fortune!
FRASQUITA
Love!
CARMEN
Give them to me,
I’ll take a turn.
Diamonds, spades...
Death! I read it clearly...me first.
Then him...for both of us, Death!
In vain to avoid bitter replies,
in vain, you will shuffle;
that is of no avail,
for the cards are sincere
and will not lie!
In the book above,
if your page is a happy one,
shuffle and cut without fear,
The card under your fingers
will turn up happy,
foretelling good luck.
But if you are to die,
if that terrible word
has been written by fate,
begin over twenty times —
the pitiless card will repeat:
Death!
Yes if you are to die,
begin again twenty times,
the pitiless cards will repeat
Death!
Again! Again!
Always Death!
Again! Again!
Always Death!
DANCAÏRE/ FRASQUITA
And now speak, my lovelies,
give us news of the future;
tell us who's going to betray us,
tell us who's going to love us!

The camp is now deserted; Micaëla enters, in search of José.

Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante…

MICAËLA
I say that nothing frightens me,
I say, alas, that I have
only myself to depend on;
but I have tried to be brave,
at heart I'm dying of fright!

Alone in this wild place,
all alone, I'm afraid,
but I do wrong to be afraid;
you will give me courage,
you will protect me, Lord.

I shall see close up this woman
whose evil wiles have finished
by making a criminal
of the man I once loved:

she is dangerous, she is beautiful,
but I won't be afraid,
I shall speak out in front of her.
Ah! Lord, you will protect me!
Ah! Lord, you will protect me!
I say that nothing frightens me,
I say, alas, that I have
only myself to depend on;
but I have tried to be brave,
at heart I'm dying of fright!

Alone in this wild place,
all alone, I'm afraid,
but I do wrong to be afraid;
you will give me courage,
you will protect me, Lord.
Protect me!
O Lord, give me courage.
Protect me!
O Lord, protect me, Lord!

Micaëla hides. José returns and she is about to approach him when Escamillo appears. He and José begin to fight over Carmen’s favours.

Mettez-vous en garde…

JOSÉ
You’ll pay with the knife!

ESCAMILLO
With the knife!

JOSÉ
You understand?

ESCAMILLO
You put it very clearly.
This deserter,
this fine soldier she loves,
or rather, used to love —
is you, then?

JOSÉ
Yes, myself!

ESCAMILLO
I'm delighted, my friend,
and the wheel comes full circle!
I could laugh at it really!
To look for the mistress
and find her lover!

JOSÉ
At last my rage
has found an outlet!
Blood, yes, blood, I hope,
will soon flow.

ESCAMILLO/ JOSÉ
Put up your guard,
and look out for yourself!
So much the worse for the one
who's slow to parry!
On guard! come on!
Look out for yourself!

Carmen rushes in to stop the fight, but she is taken by Escamillo’s obvious passion. The toreador invites them all to his next bullfight and takes his leave.

Et qui m’aime…

Micaëla steps out of her hiding place. She brings news of José’s mother.

Là-bas est la chaumière…

MICAËLA
Down there is the cottage
where, praying unceasingly,
a mother, your mother,
weeps, alas, for her son.
She weeps and calls you,
she weeps and holds out
her arms to you;
you will take pity on her, José,
ah José, you will come with me!

JOSÉ
You're telling me to go with her?

CARMEN
Yes, you ought to go!

JOSÉ
You're telling me to go with her
so that you can run after your new lover!
No! Not likely!
Though it should cost me my life,
no, Carmen, I shall not go away,
and the bond which unites us
shall unite us till death!
I will not leave!

MICAËLA
Listen to me, I implore you,
your mother reaches out to you,
That bond which unites you, José,
you will break it!

ESCAMILLO
It will cost you your life, José,
if you don't go,
And the bond which unites you
will be broken by your death.

JOSÉ
Let me be!
For I am doomed!

MICAËLA
Alas, José!
José take care!

JOSÉ
Ah! I've got you, accursed girl,
I've got you, and I shall compel you
to bow to the destiny
that links your fate with mine!
Though it should cost me my life,
No, no, no, I will not leave!

MICAËLA
One word more,
this will be the last.

JOSÉ
My mother! she's dying?
MICAËLA
Yes, Don José.

JOSÉ
Let's go, ah, let's go!
Be satisfied! I'm going,
but we shall meet again!

José leaves with Micaëla. Carmen departs with Escamillo, who can be heard singing in the distance.

ACT IV

Carmen is now together with Escamillo.
On the run as a fugitive from justice, José comes to the city in the desperate hope of seeing Carmen once more and persuading her to come away with him. Micaëla has followed him.
Excitement is building for the coming bullfight.

Les voici

Before entering the arena, Escamillo declares his love for Carmen.

Si tu m’aimes…

Micaëla has come to find Carmen and warn her of José’s obsessive determination to find her.

José confronts Carmen and tries to persuade her their love can be rekindled.

Carmen, il est temps encore…

JOSÉ
Carmen, there is still time,
yes, there is still time.
O my Carmen, let me save you,
you who I adore,
Ah let me save you
and save myself with you!

CARMEN
No, I know all too well
the hour has come,
I know well that you are going
to kill me;
but whether I live or die,
no, no, I shall not give in to you!

JOSÉ
Carmen, there is still time,
yes, there is still time.

CARMEN
Why still concern yourself
with a heart that's no longer yours?
No, this heart no longer
belongs to you!

JOSÉ
O my Carmen, let me save you,
you I adore,
and save myself with you!

CARMEN
In vain you say "I adore you!"
You'll get nothing, no nothing, from me.
Ah! it's useless,
You'll get nothing, nothing, from me!

JOSÉ
But I, Carmen, I love you still;
Carmen, alas! I adore you!
CARMEN
What's the good of all that?
What a waste of words!

JOSÉ
Carmen, I love you, I adore you!
All right, if I must, to please you
I'll stay a bandit,
anything you like, anything,
do you hear?! Anything!
But do not leave me, O my Carmen,
ah! Remember, remember the past!
We loved each other once!
Ah! do not leave me, Carmen,
ah, do not leave me!

CARMEN
Carmen will never yield!
Free she was born
and free she will die!

I love him! I love him,
and in the face of death itself
I shall go on saying I love him!

The bullfight is nearing its end.

Viva! Viva!

José implores Carmen a final time to come with him, but she refuses him again. Enraged, he stabs her.

José’s final plea

JOSÉ
So I am to lose my heart's salvation
so you can run to him, vile creature,
to laugh at me in his arms!
No, by my blood, you shall not go!
Carmen, you're coming with me!

CARMEN
No! No! Never!

JOSÉ
I'm tired of threatening you!

CARMEN
All right! stab me then,
or let me pass!

JOSÉ
For the last time, you devil,
Do you want to follow me?

CARMEN
No! No!
This ring you once gave to me —
here….. take it!

JOSÉ
All right, be damned!

You can arrest me.
I was the one who killed her!
Ah! Carmen!
My adored Carmen!