The story of Carmen-as are the stories of all operas-is told in many ways, each having its own purpose, meaning, and flair. A composer learns of, or imagines a story that he or she would like to tell. Perhaps he found a novella or play that inspired him, or she came across a historical event that intrigued her? Or perhaps even a melody suggested a story?
Once an opera is started, there are many elements for its creators to consider. There is a libretto, which is the writing out of the story, complete with dialogue. The dialogue might be spoken or, in most operas, sung.
Carmen began as a short novel and was later performed as a play. Something in the story attracted the young composer Georges Bizet (1838-1875) and he began working on the piece, completing it in 1874.
The libretto, the text of an opera, tells the story in a straightforward manner. The composer understands that the play will be acted, and he must rely on the writer to give the opera sufficient action to make the viewing interesting. So the libretto tells the story, but that is not the only way the story is told. It is also conveyed through the actors and by their costumes and the set design.
Sometimes there is dancing in an opera, and the dancers contribute to the movement and entertainment of the work, but they also aid in the laying out of the story.
However, it is the music, the score, that is the chief medium of an opera. The score must reflect the emotions being portrayed onstage, and at this, Bizet, in Carmen, absolutely rocked!
Another way of learning the story of an opera, which is often overlooked, is in the programs handed out to a theater audience. If you don’t know the story of an opera, and you can’t understand the words, how will you know what’s going on? Some opera performances today have subtitles on a monitor, but if you don’t know the plot before you take your seat, it’s difficult to appreciate the full range of the opera you’re seeing.
When working on this adaptation, I knew that there were things I wanted to say. I wanted to depict Carmen as a tough Latina woman, but one with feelings I’ve seen in the inner cities across America. Yes, she is tough, but she is also very, very human. She needs love and affection as we all do. I looked at what Bizet was doing with the music and the story, and I knew I could translate it to this year, this time.
Although the original French lyrics created by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy are dated, the music still works. If a different setting is used, then the words are sometimes changed to fit that setting. I chose a modern urban setting to write Carmen but always with the original in mind.