Georges Bizet: Carmen - Baltsa, Carreras, Ramey - James Levine, Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra (1989) DVD

Carmen - Wikipedia

 

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Carmen’s Synopsis

Written as an opera comique, Carmen’s story is told in four acts. Based on Prosper Mérimée’s novella from 1845, the plot is set in Seville and portrays the story of protagonist and tenor Don José, in a narrative of lust and obsession, as he is seduced by the alluring soprano and Spanish gypsy, Carmen.

Expressed through Carmen’s characters and Bizet’s exceptional music, Carmen was pioneering, changing the course of operatic history. Featuring expertly composed melodies, Carmen was an early form of realism in opera, a genre called verismo opera.

Act I

Opening on a town square in the centre of Seville, a group of soldiers are talking. Surrounded by townspeople, one of them, a young peasant girl named Micaëla, enquires about her love, corporal Don José. At the changing of the guard, José returns under the command of Lieutenant Zuniga and is informed that Micaëla is searching for him.

The bell rings in a nearby cigarette factory and a group of female workers emerge, headed by Carmen. Exceptionally beautiful, she flirts with the soldiers, but her attention is captured by Don José. Having ignored her, Carmen drops a flower in front of him. Reaching for it, José is enraptured by her beauty, even when Micaëla returns, bringing a letter from his mother.

His reads the letter, which requests that he marry Micaëla, when a fight starts abruptly in the factory. Seizing Carmen on Zuniga’s orders, José is instructed to escort her to prison. She entices José, persuading him to let her escape and he is subsequently arrested.

Act II

At a local tavern, Carmen and two friends, Frasquita and Mercédès, entertain the soldiers. Zuniga attempts to flirt with Carmen, followed by the triumphant bullfighter Escamillo. Carmen rejects them stating her heart is José’s. As they leave, two smugglers arrive and ask the women to assist with their latest plan. While Frasquita and Mercédès agree, Carmen refuses and awaits José’s imminent arrival.

The smugglers depart and José returns. Carmen is delighted and dances for him until the barrack’s bugle sounds. Readying to leave, Carmen teases his obedience and tells José to prove his love by living freely. Just as he refuses, Zuniga arrives in a rage and demands his return. In a fit of jealousy, José defies him. Instead, the smugglers reappear, restrain Zuniga, and José leaves with them.

Act III

At the smuggler’s hideaway, José begins to miss his former life. As a result, he argues with Carmen who declares she is no longer in love with him. Meanwhile, Frasquita and Mercédès read fortunes, forecasting love and luxury for themselves, but death for Carmen and José.

The smugglers discuss their scheme with the group and depart, leaving José to keep watch. During their absence, Micaëla arrives and hides, watching as Escamillo appears, declares his love for Carmen and quarrels with José. The smugglers return, stopping the fight and Micaëla makes her presence known. She begs José to come home, persuading him after revealing his mother is dying.

Act IV

In Seville, Escamillo arrives to an adoring crowd for his latest bullfight and is joined by Carmen as he enters the arena. Frasquita and Mercédès warn Carmen of José’s presence, rage and jealousy. Carmen decides to face him and put the matter to rest.

José pleads with Carmen, begging her to declare her love and commitment. He asks her to leave with him but she refuses, stating that her heart no longer belongs to him and throwing his ring to the ground. Enraged, José takes his dagger and pierces Carmen’s heart. She dies tragically as the sounds of Escamillo’s victory erupt from the arena.

Tracklist

01 Opening Credits (Original Version)
02 Overture Prelude (Original Version)
03 Sur la place, chacun passe Les Soldats, Moralès (Act 1)
04 Regardez donc cette petite Moralès, Les Soldats, Micaëla (Act 1)
05 Avec la garde montante Choeur des Gamins (Act 1)
06 Filez, filez, vite, vite (Act 1)
07 La cloche a sonne Les Jeunes Gens, Les Soldats, Les Cigarières (Act 1)
08 Mais nous ne voyons pas la Carmencita Les Soldats, Les Jeunes Gens (Act 1)
09 "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" Havanaise (Act 1)
10 Scène: "Carmen, sur tes pas nous nous pressons tous!" (Act 1)
11 Quels regards! Quel effronterie! (Act 1)
12 "Parle-moi de ma mère!" - "Attends un peu maintenant" (Act 1)
13 Choeur: "Au secours!" (Act 1)
14 "Voyons, brigadier.." (Act 1)
15 Tra la la la ... (Act 1)
16 "Ou me conduirez-vous?" (Act 1)
17 Chanson et Duo: "Près des remparts de Seville" (Act 1)
18 Voici l'ordre; partez... (Act 1)
19 Entracte between Act I & II (Original Version)
20 Les tringles des sistres tintaient Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita (Act 2)
21 "Allons, messieurs, messieurs"-"Vivat! vivat le torero (Act 2)
22 Couplets: "Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" (Act 2) : Toreador song
23 "Allons, messieurs.." - "Toreador, en garde!" - "Pour- quoi etais-tu si pressé de les voir partir?" (Act 2)
24 Quintette: "Nous avons en tete une affaire!" (Act 2)
25 "Amoureuse..." - "Halte-la! Qui ve la?" (Act 2)
26 Enfin ... Tu as mis le temps! (Act 2)
27 Je vais danser en votre honneur Carmen, Don Jose (Act 2)
28 La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (Don José) (Act 2)
29 Non, tu ne m'aimes pas! (Carmen, Don José) (Act 2)
30 Hola! Carmen! Hola! Zuniga, (Don José, Carmen, Dancaire, Remendado, Les Bohemiens) (Act 2)
31 Entr'acte (Act 2)
32 ecoute, compagnon, ecoute! les Contrebandiers, Frasquita, Mercédès, Carmen, Don José, Dancaire, Remendado (Act 3)
33 Halte! nous allons nous arreter ici! Dancaire, Remendado, Don José, Carmen (Act 3)
34 "Melons!" / "Melons!" / "Coupons!" Frasquita, Mercédès (Act 3)
35 "Voyons, que j'essaie a mon tour.." - "Eh bien, nous avons apercu" (Act 3)
36 Quant au douanier, c'est notre affaire! Carmen, Mercédès, Frasquita, Les Bohemiennes, Les Bohemiens, Dancaire,)
37 Nous y sommes Le Guide, Micaëla (Act 3)
38 Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante Micaëla (Act 3)
39 "Mais... je ne me trompe pas..." - "Je suis Escamillo, torero de Grenade." Micaëla, Escamillo, Don Jose / Escamillo,)
40 Hola, Jose! Carmen, Escamillo, Dancaire, Don Jose, Les Contrebandiers, Les Contrebandieres (Act 3)
41 Entr'acte Between Acts Iii & Iv (Act 3)
42 A deux cuartos! (Act 4)
43 Les voici, les voici (Act 4)
44 Si tu m'aimes, Carmen (Act 4)
45 C'est toi! - C'est moi! (Act 4)