from the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden
The action takes place in Seville in the early part of the nineteenth century
Scene, The Smugglers' Camp in the Mountains
Cast
Chorus of Smugglers
Conductor,
Sir THOMAS BEECHAM , Bart. Chorus Master, Robert Ainsworth
Producer, Harald Andre
The scene of the third act of Carmen is a rocky mountain fastness, the hiding place of the smugglers. Jose (tenor), the military deserter, is with them, torn by doubts of Carmen's love for him. Carmen (mezzo-soprano), the lovely gypsy who has seduced him from his duty, reads her own fortune from cards and sees death awaiting her. After the smugglers have left, Jose's true love Micaela (soprano) enters alone. Presently she is startled by a shot ; Jose, left on guard and seeing someone approach, has fired. It is the toreador, Escamillo (baritone), Carmen's other lover, who has come in search of his mistress. He and Jose fight, but the smugglers return and separate them. Escamillo goes away, a snatch of his popular .' Toreador's Song' being heard in the distance.