Act 1 – A public square in Seville

A company of dragoons is lounging in the plaza. The officer on guard, Moralès, flirts with Micaela, a country girl who has arrived looking for the brigadier Don José. Intimidated, Micaela leaves before José arrives. Girls from the cigarette factory come out for their noon break, followed by the gypsy Carmen. To the admiring men, she sings about the fickleness and danger of love. Piqued by José’s indifference, she throws a flower at him, taunting him. Micaela returns to give José a message and letter from his mother, then she modestly withdraws. An uproar in the factory leads to accusations that Carmen injured another worker. Zuniga, José’s captain, charges José to guard Carmen before she goes to prison. She promises José a passionate rendezvous at Lillas Pastia’s inn outside Seville if he lets her go. José is torn, but ultimately agrees to free her. He is demoted and imprisoned for his action.

Act II – The Inn of Lillas Pastia

Carmen and her friends Frasquita and Mercedes dance and revel in their gypsy life. The bullfighter Escamillo arrives, recounts his adventures in the bullring, and becomes enamored of Carmen. All leave except the three women who remain to plot a smuggling expedition with Remendado and Dancairo; except that Carmen refuses to go, citing her new found affection for José, who arrives having been released from prison. Carmen dances for him but, when José insists he must return to camp, she questions his love. José counters that his passion for her survived his prison stay, producing the dried flower she once threw at him. Carmen insists that he prove his love by joining their band of smugglers. He refuses, but when Zuniga arrives hoping for a tryst with Carmen, the two men fight. The gypsies disarm the situation, but José’s only option is now to desert the army and join the gypsies.

INTERMISSION

Act III – A mountain pass

The smugglers and gypsies have set up camp. José still adores Carmen but has grown jealous of her, and she is tiring of him. Frasquita and Mercedes read their happy fortunes in the cards, but when Carmen deals, she reads only death. The band sets off for a smuggling expedition, leaving José to guard the camp. Micaela approaches in search of José, but hides when Escamillo arrives looking for Carmen. Escamillo and José duel, but are interrupted by Carmen and the returning smugglers. The bullfighter leaves after issuing an invitation to the bullfight in Seville, and the others are about to resume their activities when Micaela is discovered. She reveals to José that his mother is dying, and he leaves with her after warning Carmen that they will meet again.

Act IV – Outside the bullring in Seville

Vendors and spectators anticipate the bullfight. Escamillo arrives with Carmen, and the two vow their love to each other. Carmen’s friends warn her that José lurks about, but she shows no fear.

As all retreat inside the bullfighting ring, a disheveled and agitated José confronts Carmen, pleading her to return to him. She refuses. As Escamillo’s triumph is heard in the bullring, Carmen’s demise comes at José’s hands.