cast:

Plot

ACT I

Seville. Soldiers at the toll-gates, bored with idleness, are waiting for their change of guard. A young girl catches their attention. Sergeant Morales finds out her name is Micaëla and that she is looking for sergeant Don José. Don José will arrive with the change of guard. Meanwhile the soldiers invite Micaëla into the guardhouse, but she runs away.

The long awaited change of guard finally approaches. They are under the command of Don José. Morales tells his colleague about Micaëla's arrival and returns to quarters with his men.

Captain Zuniga has recently arrived in the city and is interested in girls working in the cigarette factory. His curiosity is satisfied when they come out during a short break. Among them is the Gypsy Carmen. She pays no attention to the soldiers, however, but is intrigued by the indifferent Don José. She flirts with him and throws him a flower. Meanwhile Micaëla returns. She brings her beloved a letter from his mother. The touched Don José reads it and finds out that his mother wishes him to marry her protege. He decides to heed his mother's advice.

A fight breaks out in the cigarette factory. A crowd of girls runs out into the yard and chaotically tells Captain Zuniga about the reason for the fight. Don José is commanded to restore order in the building. The sergeant returns after a while, leading Carmen, who has stabbed a co-worker with a knife. The beautiful Gypsy refuses to talk, so Zuniga decides to arrest her. Taking advantage of the fact that the Captain is gone to write out orders for Carmen's arrest, she induces Don José to help her escape. In exchange, she promises him her love. The sergeant agrees and unties her hands. On their way to jail, he allows Carmen to escape.

ACT II

Four weeks go by since the events of Act I took place. A party initiated by soldiers of the Seville garrison and Captain Zuniga goes on in Lillas Pastia, a tavern located outside the city walls. Carmen and her two friends, Mercedes and Frasquita sing, and dance for the extraordinary guests. When the owner of the tavern gives a sign, the girls say good-bye to the soldiers. Before they part, Carmen finds out from Zuniga that Don José has just been released from jail, where he was put for allowing her to escape. The tavern's closing is delayed by the arrival of the famous bull- fighter Escamillo. The guests drink a few more glasses of wine in his honour. Escamillo notices Carmen. She likes the hero of the arena, but rejects his obvious proposals. Escamillo is not discouraged by her refusal and leaves together with the soldiers. Captain Zuniga tells Carmen that he will come back for her this evening.

The tavern was closed at the order of Dancairo, the leader of a band of smugglers. He has arrived with his aide Remendado to organize an expedition. For this, they need the help of girls, whose job it will be to distract the attention of custom officials. Frasquita and Mercedes agree to take part in the foray. Carmen refuses in spite of Dancairo's threats. She is in love and awaits the arrival of her beloved. Whether he wants it or not, Dancairo agrees to Carmen's joining the group later.

Don José can be heard singing in the distance. The smugglers tell Carmen to convince Don José to join their band. Don José enters and after greeting him, Carmen starts a dance in the honour of her lover. The dance is interrupted by the sound of a bugle for the roll-call in the garrison. José must return to the quarters but Carmen does not want to let him go. She chides him for his lack of love for her and, following Dancairo's advice, urges him to desert and flee into the mountains. Don José is outraged at this and tries to leave the tavern. At this time Captain Zuniga comes back and provokes a fight with his subordinate. The smugglers break up the fight. They capture Zuniga and now Don José has no choice but to join the band.

ACT III

The smugglers deal in contraband. Hidden in the mountains, they are waiting for an appropriate moment to return to the city. To while away their time, Mercedes and Frasquita tell each other fortunes from cards. Carmen lays cards down as well and the prediction is irrevocable: death. First for her and soon after for Don José.

Dancairo and Remendado return from their reconnaissance and the band sets out for the city. The women, whose job it is to distract the customs officials' attention, leave first. Don José remains behind to guard the goods.

Meanwhile the mother of Don José is dying. Heedless of the danger, Micaëla sets out into the mountains to inform him of this. A gunshot rings out and the terrified girl hides among the rocks. Don José was not firing at Micaëla, however. The bullfighter Escamillo arrives from the city. He has fallen in love with Carmen and is looking for her in the mountains. Both men engage in a duel. Escamillo's life is saved only by the sudden return of Carmen and the rest of the band. Escamillo promises Don José that they will meet again. He invites all those who love him to his next bullfight in Seville.

The smugglers find Micaëla hidden among the rocks. She tells Don José about his mother's sickness.

Escamillo's light-hearted singing is heard in the distance.

ACT IV

The citizens of Seville proceed to the bullfighting arena in great numbers. The awaited Escamillo arrives, accompanied by the beautiful Carmen. Mercedes and Frasquita warn her about Don José, who is somewhere nearby. When Carmen wants to enter the arena, Don José blocks her way. He begs her beloved to come back to him. When she refuses, he kills her.