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Rogue Opera  

PRESENTS

CARMEN 

RE-IMAGINED

In this intimate version of Bizet's Carmen, scored for four voices with piano accompaniment, Rogue Opera presents a compact production to bring you the essence of the story, the complexities of the characters and the beauty of the music.

Carmen lives a bohemian life, seeking freedom outside of the law. José, drawn to Carmen and this unconventional world, is torn between love, duty and honour. Micaëla, innocent and pious, represents a simpler way of life and the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo soon becomes a rival for Carmen’s affections. Morales, the captain embodies everything that the Gypsies, Frasquita and Dancaire are not. Set against some of the most recognisable music in opera, this opera is a serious and still-relevant examination of the restrictions of societal stereotypes, obsessive love and the struggle of a spirited woman striving for independence and choice.

Parental advisory: This show contains adult themes and depictions of violence. Please contact us if you would like to discuss suitability

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.
Micaëla arrives to seek out José, but encounters Moralès who flirts with her.
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.
Carmen and Moralès leave. Micaëla approaches José. She brings a message from his mother.
José is overwhelmed by memories of his mother and his 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.
Left alone in José ‘s custody, Carmen tries to persuade him to free her.
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.
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.
Carmen and José remain alone together in the tavern, and Carmen dances for him.
José tells Carmen of the love – and torment – he has felt since their first meeting, when she threw him a flower.
Carmen tells José he would join the free, gypsy life if he loved her, but he cannot give up his honourv and his duty.
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.
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.
Dancaïre and Frasquita seek their future fortune in the cards. Carmen, too, deals a hand to see her fate.
The camp is now deserted; Micaëla enters, in search of José.
Micaëla hides. José returns and she is about to approach him when Escamillo appears. He and José begin to fight over Carmen’s favours.
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.
Micaëla steps out of her hiding place. She brings news of José’s mother.
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.
Before entering the arena, Escamillo declares his love for Carmen.
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.
The bullfight is nearing its end.
José implores Carmen a final time to come with him, but she refuses him again. Enraged, he stabs her.
End of ACT IV
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