would undoubtedly have slain the bullfighter had not Carmen stayed his hand. The rivals part on terms of deadly enmity, promising to meet again and fight out their quarrel to the death. The last words tauntingly uttered by Escamillo as he departs are to invite all who care to see him at the coming bullfight, where he will play the chief part as Espada. Outside the arena on the great day we find Carmen, who, disdaining the warning uttered by a fellow gypsy, Frasquita, is resolved to see the fight. Reckless as ever, she has no fear of Don José, though he has threatened her. Besides, has she not read her fate in the cards, the verdict being death! As she lingers at the entrance Don José arrives. He has come to make a last appeal to Carmen to give up the bullfighter in his favour. The love-tortured soldier will do anything she asks - renounce his family, join the gypsy band, go with her to the ends of the earth, if only she will love him as before. In His Hour of Triumph Carmen will have none of him. At present she is Escamillo's, body and soul, and she will give Don José no sort of hope. From the ring inside come shouts of triumph. The torero has vanquished his bull, and the people are frantic with delight. Carmen, all eager to see her new hero in his hour of triumph, tears herself away from her old love, who by now is on his knees beside her, imploring her to stay. Fiercely she throws at his feet the ring he once gave her, and rushes to the arena door. Mad with rage and disappointment, Don José springs to his feet, overtakes Carmen as she hammers at the woodwork, and, taking a dagger from his belt, stabs her to the heart, with a bitter curse. The arena doors are thrown open. Escamillo, escorted by a jubilant crowd, comes out, to find Carmen lying dead before him. CAST • Escamillo, Toreador • Micaëla, A Village Maiden • Zuniga, Lieutenant of Dragoons • Moralès, Corporal of Dragoons • Frasquita, Companion of Carmen • Mercédès, Companion of Carmen • Lillas Pastia, an innkeeper • Le Dancaïre, smuggler • Le Remendado, smuggler • A guide • Chorus: Soldiers, young men, cigarette factory girls, Escamillo’s supporters, Gypsies, merchants and orange sellers, police, bullfighters, people, urchins. ACT 1 1. Prelude (orchestra) 2. Sur la place chacun passe (Chorus of soldiers, Moralès, Micaëla) 3. Avec la garde montante (Chorus of urchins, Zuniga) 4. La cloche a sonné (Chorus of citizens, soldiers, cigarette girls) 5. Habanera: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle (Carmen, chorus as above) 6. Carmen! Sur tes pas nous pressons! (Chorus of citizens and cigarette girls) 7. Parle-moi de ma mère (José, Micaëla) 8. Que se passe-t-il là-bas? Au secours! Au secours! (Chorus of cigarette girls, soldiers, Zuniga) 9. Tra-la-la ... Coupe-moi, brûle-moi (Carmen, Zuniga, cigarette girls, José)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=