The libretto was written by henri meilhac and ludovic halévy, based on the novella of the same title by prosper mérimée. The opera’s melodic sweep is as irresistible as the title character herself, a force of nature who has become a defining female cultural figure Carmen was a scandal at its premiere but soon after became a triumphal success and has remained one of the most frequently staged operas in the world. With a plot based on the 1845 novella of the same name by prosper mérimée, bizet’s carmen was groundbreaking in its realism, and it rapidly became one of the most popular western operas of all time. The irresistible carmen captivates the eyes of every man she meets, including the lovesick soldier don josé As he forsakes his military duty, his fiancée, and the law, his admiration becomes uncontrollable obsession and carmen leaves him for prestige and freedom.
The habanera is the aria carmen sings when she first appears on stage It is also known as 'l'amour est un oiseau rebelle'. Bizet composed the opera in collaboration with top librettists of the time, henri meilhac and ludovic halévy, who adapted the story based on prosper mérimée’s novella of the same title. Carmen, opera by george bizet Here is a complete guide with a thorough explanation of the story, something about the background, and the voices. A guide to bizet's stunner of an opera, carmen
In mérimée’s original story, carmen is portrayed as a young, strong, and capricious woman who wields incredible power over men The tale is told through the eyes of don josé, who is about to be executed, and mérimée himself, who follows josé.
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