“Carmen” by Georges Bizet libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four

ACT FOUR

No. 24 Chorus

A square in Seville
(The the walls of the old arena are in the
background. The entrance to the ring is closed by a
long curtain. A bullfight is about to take place, and
there is great excitement. Hawkers move about
offering water, oranges, fans, etc.)

CHORUS
Two cuartos! Two cuartos!
Fans to cool yourselves!
Oranges to nibble!
Programme with details!
Wine! Water! Cigarettes!
Two cuartos! Two cuartos! etc.
Look! For two cuartos!
Senoras and caballeros!

ZUNIGA
Some oranges, look sharp!

SEVERAL FRUITSELLERS (running up)
Here you are,
take these, ladies.

ONE OF THEM (to Zuniga, who pays)
Thank you, officer, thank you.

THE OTHERS
These ones here, sir, are better.
Fans to cool yourselves, etc.

ZUNIGA
Here you! Some fans!

A GYPSY (running forward)
Want some opera glasses too?

CHORUS (reprise)
Two cuartos! Two cuartos!
Look! Look! Two cuartos! etc.
(Shouts and fanfares are heard. The procession
begins.)

No. 25 March and Chorus

CHORUS
Here they come! Here's the cuadrilla!
The toreadors' cuadrilla!
The sun flashes on their lances!
Up in the air with your caps and hats!
Here they are! Here's the cuadrilla,
the toreadors' cuadrilla!
Here, coming into the square
first of all, marching on foot,
is the constable with his ugly mug!
Down with him! Down with him!
And now as they go by
let's cheer the bold chulos!
Bravo! Hurrah! Glory to courage!
Here come the bold chulos!
Look at the banderilleros!
See what a swaggering air!
See them! See them!
What looks, and how brilliantly
the ornaments glitter
on their fighting dress!
Here are the banderilleros!
Another cuadrilla's coming!
Look at the picadors!

How handsome they are!
How they'll torment the bulls' flanks
with the tips of their lances!
(At last Escamillo appears, accompanied by a
radiant and magnificently dressed Carmen.)
The Matador! Escamillo!
It's the Matador, the skilled swordsman,
he who comes to finish things off,
who appears at the drama's end
and strikes the last blow!
Long live Escamillo! Ah bravo!
Here they are! here's the cuadrilla! etc.

ESCAMILLO (to Carmen)
If you love me, Carmen soon
you can be proud of me.

CARMEN
Ah! I love you, Escamillo, I love you,
and may I die if I have ever loved
anyone as much as you!

TOGETHER
Ah! I love you!
Yes, I love you!

ALGUAZILS
Make way! Make way for his worship the Mayor!
(During a little orchestral march the Mayor enters
and crosses the stage, preceded and followed by
an escort of constables. Meanwhile Frasquita and
Mercédès draw near to Carmen.)

FRASQUITA
Carmen, a word of advice, don't stay here!

CARMEN
And why, if you please?

MERCÉDÈS
He's there!

CARMEN
Who?

MERCÉDÈS
Him, Don José
He's hiding among the crowd; look.

CARMEN
Yes, I see him.

FRASQUITA
Take care!

CARMEN
I'm not a woman to tremble in front of him.
I'm expecting him, and I'll speak to him.

MERCÉDÈS
Carmen, believe me, take care!

CARMEN
I'm not afraid of anything!

FRASQUITA
Take care!
(The mayor's cortege has entered the arena. Behind
him, the procession of the cuadrilla resumes its

march and goes into the ring. The crowd
follows...and in withdrawing has revealed Don José,
leaving him and Carmen alone downstage.)

No. 26 Final Duet

CARMEN
It's you!

JOSÉ
Yes, me!

CARMEN
I'd been warned
that you were about, that you might come here;
I was even told to fear for my life
but I'm no coward and had no intention of running away.

JOSÉ
I'm not threatening, I'm imploring, beseeching;
our past, Carmen - I forget it!
Yes, together we are going
to begin another life,
far from here, under new skies!

CARMEN
You ask the impossible,
Carmen has never lied;
her mind is made up.
Between her and you everything's finished.
I have never lied;
all's over between us.

JOSÉ
Carmen, there is still time,
yes, there is still time.
O my Carmen, let me
save you, you I adore,
and save myself with you!

CARMEN
No, I'm well aware that the hour has come,
I know that you are going to kill me;
but whether I live or die,
no, no, I shall not give in to you!

JOSÉ
Carmen, there is still time,
O my Carmen, let me
save you, you whom I adore;
ah! let me save you
and save myself with you!
O my Carmen, there is still time, etc.

CARMEN
Why still concern yourself
with a heart that's no longer yours?
No, this heart no longer belongs to you!
In vain you say "I adore you"
you'll get nothing, no nothing, from me.
Ah! it's useless,
You'll get nothing, nothing, from me!

JOSÉ
Then you don't love me any more?

(Carmen is silent.)
Then you don't love me any more?

CARMEN
No, I don't love you any more.

JOSÉ
But I, Carmen, I love you still;
Carmen, alas! I adore you!

CARMEN
What's the good of this? What waste of words!

JOSÉ
Carmen, I love you, I adore you!
All right, if I must, to please you
I'll stay a bandit, anything you like -
anything, do you hear? Anything!
but do not leave me,
O my Carmen,
ah! remember the past!
We loved each other once!
Ah! do not leave me, Carmen,
ah, do not leave me!

CARMEN
Carmen will never yield!
Free she was born and free she will die!

CHORUS and FANFARES (in the arena)
Hurrah! hurrah! a grand fight!
Hurrah! Across the bloodstained sand
the bull charges!
Look! Look! Look!
The tormented bull

comes bounding to the attack, look!
Struck true, right to the heart,
look! look! look!
Victory!
(During the chorus, Carmen and José remain
silent...both are listening...José's eyes are fixed
upon her...The chorus over, she takes a step
towards the main entrance of the ring.)

JOSÉ (blocking her way)
Where are you going?

CARMEN
Leave me alone!

JOSÉ
This man they're cheering,
he's your new lover!

CARMEN
Leave me alone! Leave me alone!

JOSÉ
By my soul,
you won't get past,
Carmen, you will come with me!

CARMEN
Let me go, Don José, I'm not going with you.

JOSÉ
You're going to him.
Tell me...you love him, then?

CARMEN
I love him!

I love him, and in the face of death itself
I shall go on saying I love him!
(shouts and fanfares again from the arena)

CHORUS
Hurrah! A grand fight! etc.

JOSÉ
So I am to lose
my heart's salvation so that you
can run to him, infamous creature,
to laugh at me in his arms!
No, by my blood, you shall not go!
Carmen, you're coming with me!

CARMEN
No! No! Never!

JOSÉ
I'm tired of threatening you!

CARMEN
All right, stab me then, or let me
pass!

CHORUS
Victory!

JOSÉ
For the last time, you devil,
will you come with me?

CARMEN
No! No!

This ring that you
once gave to me -
here, take it!
(She throws it away.)

JOSÉ
(advancing on Carmen, knife in hand)
All right, damn you!
(Carmen draws back, José following, as fanfares
sound again in the ring.)

CHORUS
Toreador, on guard!
And remember, yes remember as you fight
that two dark eyes are watching you,
and that love awaits you!
(José has stabbed Carmen; she falls dead. The curtains
are thrown open and the crowd comes out of the arena.)

JOSÉ
You can arrest me.
I was the one who killed her!
(Escamillo appears on the arena steps. José
throws himself upon Carmen's body.)
Ah! Carmen! My adored Carmen!

End of the Opera

libretto by Alan Gregory, 1964

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four