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Running times approximately 2 hours 55 minutes

Read an article by Phillip Pullman on Carmen

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Act 3
In the mountains

The bandits, among them José and the gypsies, pause to rest on their journey. Le Dancaïre and Remendado go off to check that the coast is clear. Carmen and José have been quarrelling and now José asks her for their reconciliation. Carmen tries to tell him that he doesn’t belong among her people and she would understand if he left and returned to his mother and his home.

She puts a distance between herself and him, believing that he will bring about her death. José becomes jealous.

Mercédès and Frasquita read their fortunes in the cards. Carmen can only find that her prediction is confirmed: death for herself and José.

Le Dancaïre returns and explains his scheme to evade the customs: the three gypsies will each take on one of the customs officers.

Micaëla enters with a guide, looking for José. She calls on God to give her the courage to confront Carmen. There is a noise of gunfire, and she hides.

José shoots at and misses an intruder who reveals himself as Escamillo. Without realising whom he is addressing, the toreador explains that he has come to find Carmen, hearing that José has lost her affection. They fight.

The smugglers return and break up the fight. Escamillo invites all to attend his bull-fight in Seville: whoever loves him will be there. José, goaded by jealousy, threatens Carmen once more. Micaëla is discovered in hiding. She has come to remind José of his mother who is waiting in desperation for his return. Carmen also urges him to go back but José swears he will not leave. Micaëla reveals that his mother is on the point of death, longing to give him her pardon. José leaves with Micaëla. Escamillo’s voice is heard in the distance.

Act 4
Outside the bull-ring in Seville

A crowd has gathered before the fight. Among them is Zuniga, Frasquita and Mercédès.

The procession arrives on its way to the bull-ring, acclaimed by the crowd. Escamillo and Carmen meet. She tells him that she loves him. The crowd enters the arena. Although Carmen has been warned by Mercédès and Frasquita to beware, she waits for José.

José implores her to come back to him, but she refuses to lie or compromise, and insists their love is over, despite all his threats, pleas and promises. Offstage, the crowd acclaims Escamillo’s victories in the ring. José forces Carmen to declare her love for Escamillo. She throws away the ring José has given her. He kills her and gives himself up for arrest.