Carmen-Georges Bizet

First premiered: Opra-Comique, Paris, 3 March 1875

Librettists: Henri Meilhac, Ludovic Halvy
Genre: Opra comique
Carmen is an opera composed by the French comperser Georges
Bizet. The opera includes 4 acts. At its first premiere in Paris, the
opera was not particularly successful. It became more celebrated after
Bizets death.
There is no clear indication of when work began on Carmen.
Bizet and the two librettists were all in Paris during 1873 and easily to
meet. The libretto was prepared in accordance with the convention of
opra comique with dialogue separating musical numbers. With
rehearsal began in October 1873, Bizet had began to write all the
music around January of that year. The project was suspended for a
while, because of the difficulties in finding a singer for the tittle role.
The opera tells the story about a nave soldier, Don Jos who is
seduced by the wiles of fiery Gypsy, Carmen. Jos left his lover and
deserted from his military duties. Still, he lost Carmens love to the
glamorous toreador Escamillo, after which he killed her in a jealous
rage.
Due to the depiction of immorality and lawlessness of the story,
and a tragic death of main character, Georges Bizet broke new ground
in French opera and was highly controversial. Most reviews were
critical. Carmen started to gain its reputation outside France, and was
not revived in Paris until 1883. Later commentators asserted that
Carmen form is the bridge between the tradition of opra comique and
the realism that characterized late 19th century Italian opera.
Music
Bizet, who had never visited Spain, sought out appropriate ethnic
material to provide an authentic Spanish flavor to his music. Carmens
renowned Habanera is based on an idiomatic song, El Arreglito by
the Spanish-American composer Sebastian Yradier. Bizet wanted this
song to be a genuine folk melody. He used a genuine folk song as the
source of Carmens defiant Coupe-moi, brle-moi while other parts
used the rhythms and instrumentation associated with flamenco
music.
The prelude to act 1 combines three recurrent themes: the entry
of the bullfighters from act 4, the refrain from the Toreador Song from
act 2, and the motif that, in two slightly differing forms, represents
both Carmen and the fate that she personifies.
Notable Arias
Toreador Song- (Votre toast, je peux vous le render) This song is
sung by the bullfighter, Escamillo as he enters in act 2, and describes

situations in the bullring, the cheering of the crowd and the fame that
comes with the victory.
Habanera- Known as Lamour est un oiseaux rebelle (Love is a
rebellious bird) This song is sung by a mezzo-soprano role, Carmen.
The song was adapted from El Arreglito original composed by the
Spanish musician Sebastian Yradier. It is based on a descending
chromatic scale followed by variants of the same phrase in minor and
then the major key. The lyrics is obviously about love that always
comes and goes. When you think to hold it fast, it flees you. You think
to flee, it holds you.
Role
Role

Voice type

Premiere cast, 3 March 1875

Conductor: Adolphe Deloffre[14]

Carmen, A Gypsy Girl

mezzo-soprano

Clestine Galli-Mari

Don Jos, Corporal of Dragoons

tenor

Paul Lhrie

Escamillo, Toreador

bass-baritone

Jacques Bouhy

Micala, A Village Maiden

soprano

Marguerite Chapuy

Zuniga, Lieutenant of Dragoons

bass

Eugne Dufriche

Morals, Corporal of Dragoons

baritone

Edmond Duvernoy

Frasquita, Companion of Carmen

soprano

Alice Ducasse

Mercds, Companion of Carmen

mezzo-soprano

Esther Chevalier

Lillas Pastia, an innkeeper

spoken

M. Nathan

Le Dancare, smuggler

baritone

Pierre-Armand Potel

Le Remendado,smuggler

tenor

Barnolt

A guide

spoken

M. Teste

Chorus: Soldiers, young men, cigarette factory girls, Escamillo's supporters, Gypsies, merchants
and orange sellers, police, bullfighters, people, urchins.