Opera
Carmen
Georges Bizet
With the spoken dialogue, not the recitatives. It is a longer evening and a much better one.
Libretto Meilhac and Halévy, after MériméeSung in FrenchSurtitles EnglishRunning time 3h 10mIntervals TwoFirst performed 1875
Synopsis
Act I
A guard post, a factory bell, and a flower thrown with intent.
Act II
Lillas Pastia's, after hours. Smugglers, a bullfighter, and a soldier who is already late.
Act III
The mountains. Cards are read honestly, which is the problem.
Act IV
Outside the arena. The crowd goes in. Two people stay outside.
❦
Restored to the opéra-comique version Bizet actually finished, which means dialogue instead of Guiraud’s posthumous recitatives. The cigarette factory is a real working floor, built at full height, and the fourth act happens entirely outside the arena.