Name:____________________
Bizet: Carmen
Title of the work ________________________
Carmen Composer __________________
G. Bizet
When and where did the opera premiere ____________
1875 ________________________
Paris
Number of Acts _______________
4 Language __________________
French
Librettists __________________________________________________________________
Ludovic Halevy, Henri Meilhac
Who wrote the literary work on which the work was based?
______________________________________________________________________________
Prosper Merimee
Who set the spoken dialogue to music after Bizet’s death? ________________________
Ernest Guiraud
Describe the Prelude to Act 1
______________________________________________________________________________
It foreshadows the contrasting mood of the opera. For example, the opening section A
theme returns in the final scene. As well, the swaggerign toreador theme is heard in Section B and
______________________________________________________________________________
the motive of fate that is playing in Section C is a dark threat running throughout the score.
A sinister motive runs through the score like a “dark thread”. Who does it represent?
______________________________________________________________________________
It represents death and tragic ending (Don Jose kills Carmen when Carmen falls in love
with Escamillo)
______________________________________________________________________________
1
Name:____________________
Name the following characters
The army corporal ________________________
Don Jose
Micaela
His childhood sweetheart ________________________
His lieutenant Lieutenant Zuniga
________________________
The bullfighter ________________________
Escamillo
Carmen’s two girlfriends ________________________
Frasquita ________________________
Mercedes
What is the voice type of Carmen ________________________
Mezzo-soprano
In which country and city is the story set on ________________
Seville __________________
Spain
Where is Carmen employed? Cigarette Factory
_________________________________
Give 2 reasons why Carmen is an excellent example of exoticism:
______________________________________________________________________________
Carmen's opening aria "Habanera" is a Cuban dance with dotted tango rhythm that is
______________________________________________________________________________
from Havana. These are both "exotic" musical elements.
Briefly define the term exoticism and explain how it relates to this opera
______________________________________________________________________________
Exoticism is a Romantic musical style that has foreign musical elements. Carmen is
______________________________________________________________________________
Spanish and has many foreign elements (e.g. Cuban dange, tango, etc.)
Briefly describe the melody Carmen sings at the beginning of the Habañera.
______________________________________________________________________________
She sings "Quand je vous aimerai?..." and it suggests her teasing nature as her melody
has short and clipped phrases punctuated by the "fate" motive.
______________________________________________________________________________
Briefly describe the accompaniment of the opening of the Habañera.
______________________________________________________________________________
A dance-like rhythmic ostinato is in the bass/cello based on a low-D pedal note (pedal point).
The orchestration has the triangle and tambourine which add exotic color. Violins and violas
also suggest Spanish guitars by pizzicato.
______________________________________________________________________________
