SYNOPSIS IN A MINUTE

Carmen is a seductive, freedom-loving woman, desired by many. She takes Don José, a young soldier, as her latest lover, who defects from the army to join her in her smuggling life. But when she spurns him for the dashing toreador Escamillo, Don José cannot accept her rejection…to fatal consequences.  

FULL SYNOPSIS

ACT I 

Micaëla, a young peasant girl, is searching for her beloved, the soldier Don José. During the changing of the guard, a group of women take a break from their work at a cigar factory. One of them, Carmen, has many admirers but she tries to attract the attention of Don José who remains indifferent to her, despite the flower she has tossed at him. A short time later, the beautiful Carmen is arrested following a fracas with another factory worker, and Don José is assigned to arrest her. Falling under her spell, the corporal allows her to escape, landing him in jail for two months.  

ACT II  

Carmen and her friends gather at a tavern, when a passing parade celebrates the victorious bullfighter, Escamillo. Zuniga, Don José’s lieutenant who is in love with Carmen too, tells Carmen that Don José has been released from jail.  Don José soon arrives at the tavern and Carmen demands that he give up his commission and follow her into the mountains with the smugglers. Meanwhile, Zuniga has caught up with Don José and tries to convince the corporal to come home with him. Don José, torn between duty and desire and jealous of Zuniga’s affection for Carmen, picks a fight with Zuniga. In the end, he has no choice but to desert his company and flee into the mountains with Carmen and the band of smugglers.  

INTERMISSION 

ACT III 

As the smugglers move through the mountains, Carmen becomes fed up with her lover’s possessive and controlling behaviour. Escamillo, who has followed them in search of Carmen, arrives. A fight ensues between Don José and Escamillo but is interrupted by Micaëla who has come to tell Don José that his mother is dying. Micaëla and Don José leave together.  

ACT IV 

On the day of the great bullfight, Carmen and Escamillo swear their love to each other. A haggard Don José appears at the arena and begs, then demands, Carmen to return to him, but she refuses. Don José, in despair, charges at Carmen, stabbing her. She dies as the crowd cheers the toreador in the corrida. 

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Meet J'Nai Bridges and Rihab Chaieb, the two dazzling mezzo-sopranos singing the iconic titular role! Read on.

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