Carmen

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Set in Seville around the year 1830, Carmen tells a passionate story of love, jealousy, and betrayal. The opera follows Don José, a soldier who is seduced by the fiery gypsy factory-girl Carmen. Drawn away from his duty and his devoted sweetheart Micaëla, Don José allows Carmen to escape custody. Consumed by desire, he abandons his military post and joins the band of smugglers with whom Carmen is associated. As Carmen’s affections shift to the dashing bullfighter Escamillo, Don José’s jealousy spirals into obsession. In the gripping final act, outside the bullring in Seville, Carmen arrives on Escamillo’s arm—only to be stabbed to death by the heartbroken Don José, who has been waiting for her.

Carmen is Georges Bizet’s most celebrated opera. Its exotic Spanish setting and bold realism were groundbreaking at the time of its premiere, though controversial to many early audiences. Viewers were shocked by the provocative character of Carmen, the cigarette factory girls and their smoking, and the depiction of murder onstage.

Despite initial criticism, Carmen has become one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire. The score features numerous iconic pieces, including Carmen’s sultry Habanera and Séguidilla, Escamillo’s rousing Toreador Song, Don José’s heartfelt aria La fleur que tu m'avais jetée (“The flower that you threw me”), and Micaëla’s moving Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante (“I say that nothing frightens me”).

Teatro Lirico D’Europa presents a full-scale production of Carmen, featuring traditional European-designed sets and costumes, an international cast, and vibrant dancers. The opera will be performed in the original French with English supertitles