SYNOPSIS

Setting: in and around a large clothing factory.

ACT I

The factory yard

The factory workers are waiting for the next shift to begin. A young woman, Micaëla, appears and asks for the supervisor, José. José’s colleague, Moralès, tells her to come back later, and Micaëla leaves. A little later, during the break, female workers appear in the yard. One of them, Carmen, sings a habanera about freedom. Carmen likes to tease the supervisors, especially Zuniga, the most senior of them all. José cannot take his eyes off her. When the break is over, everyone returns to work.

Micaëla returns with a letter from José’s mother in which she asks him to marry Micaëla. José does not know how to reply, so he dismisses Micaëla. Suddenly there is a commotion. Carmen is accused of starting a fight, and Zuniga tries to interrogate her, but fails. He tells José to stand guard over her. When they are on their own Carmen tells José that she will always love him if he releases her. José lets her escape and is immediately demoted.

ACT II

The photo studio

Carmen and her friends Mercédès and Frasquita are modelling for the factory catalogue. They are interrupted by the arrival of the factory workers and Escamillo, a popular MMA fighter known as the Toreador. Escamillo impresses everyone with his inflated ego, but Carmen seems indifferent. Dancaïre and Remendado arrive. They have discovered a way of smuggling garments out of the factory and they need help. Mercédès and Frasquita agree, but Carmen refuses. Everyone is surprised when she tells them she is in love with Josè, who is on his way. Dancaïre and Remendado leave, and Carmen says she will join them later.

The passionate encounter between Carmen and José is interrupted by the factory whistle. He must go back. Carmen complains that he does not love her. José desperately tries to convince her that he has loved her from the moment they met, but now he really must go. Suddenly there is a noise outside. Zuniga is drunk and has come to court Carmen. José and Zuniga fight over Carmen, but the smugglers intervene. José has attacked a superior, so now he must join Carmen and the smugglers.

INTERMISSION

ACT III

The quay

Some time has passed, and Carmen is tired of José’s jealous control. Mercédès and Frasquita begin to tell each other’s fortune and dream of a brighter future. José tries to calm Carmen, but she refuses to listen. Together with Remendado and Dancaïre they go to the quay on the outskirts of the factory compound in order to persuade the customs officials to let the contraband through. José is left behind to act as the lookout. Escamillo arrives in search of Carmen, his new lover.

José is furious and attacks him, but the returning smugglers hold him back. It is now clear that Carmen is attracted to Escamillo. As they prepare to leave, Remendado discovers Micaëla hiding in the dark. She tries to persuade José to return home. When she tells him that his mother is dying, he goes with her.

ACT IV

The arena

The factory workers come to watch the title match between the Toreador and the Bull, who has challenged him. Mercédès and Frasquita have noticed José among the spectators, and they tell Carmen she should leave. Carmen decides she wants to see him.

Carmen and José meet on the roof. She tries to persuade him that their affair is over. José insists that they love each other and he begs her to return to him. She needs to be free, she says, love cannot be forced. The sound of the spectators can be heard from below when Escamillo wins the fight.

José becomes furious when he finally realises that Carmen does not love him anymore.