Bizet’s Carmen is one of the most popular and familiar operas. When Bizet created Carmen, he broke operatic convention by celebrating proletarian and immoral ways of life. He also vividly brought to life the character of Carmen (almost a side note in the original story) as a complex, proud and spirited woman who strove at every turn to claim independence and agency in her life, love and friendships.

José's passion for Carmen has led him far from his life as a soldier. He becomes increasingly conflicted about the path he has followed out of love for her. Carmen has little patience for his prevarication and she and her gypsy companions exhort him to embrace their way of life, pursuing their fortune despite the dangers and relishing their freedom.