Carmen at The Kentucky Center

Carmen, that most passionate of gypsy women, has made it clear that she lives by her own rules; she loves who she will and those who love her in return should beware. As she spins her web around the corporal Don José, he eventually succumbs even though it means turning his back on the military and joining up with smugglers. As quickly as she loves, Carmen’s gaze turns elsewhere – in this case, to the famed bullfighter, Escamillo. Don José, too, has a choice in his childhood friend Micaela. She pulls him away momentarily for the sake of his dying mother, but Don José’s jealousy consumes him. He returns to Seville, confronting Carmen and his demons. Carmen remains defiant, telling Don José that he shall never have her. This is too much for the already shattered Don José, as he plunges his knife into Carmen then confesses to the crowd that he has killed his love.

Sung in French with English supertitles.

Authors

• AnnMarie Milazzo
• Everett Quinton
• Georges Bizet
• Henry Hamilton
• John Ewbank
• Prosper Merimee
• Sarah Miles