Carmen Act 1 and Act 2 Flashcards
What is the genre of Carmen?
lyric opera (French opera with spoken dialogue)
When did Carmen premiere?
March 3, 1875
What was the source of plot for Carmen?
novella (short story) by <b>Prosper Mérimée</b>
Who are the librettists for Carmen?
Ludovic Halévy and Henri Meilhac
Who is <b>Carmen</b> in Carmen?
mezzo-soprano
a free-spirited gypsy girl
Who is <b>Don José</b> in Carmen?
tenor
an army corporal
Who is <b>Escamillo</b> in Carmen?
baritone
a bull-fighter (toreador)
Who is <b>Macaëla</b> in Carmen?
soprano
Don José’s girlfriend
Who is <b>Frasquita</b> in Carmen?
soprano
Carmen’s friend
Who is <b>Mercédès</b> in Carmen?
mezzo-soprano
Carmen’s friend
What is the key for <u>act 1, "Quand je vous aimerai?"</u> in Carmen?
F minor
How is <b>Carmen’s</b> teasing nature suggested in <u>act 1, "Quand je vous aimerai?"</u> in Carmen?
clipped phrases that are punctuated nby
What does “signature theme” the recurs throughout the opera <b>represent</b> in Carmen?
it represents fate and destinies of <b>Carmen</b> and <b>Don José</b>
What is the aria, <u>"L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Carmen's aria)</u>, famously known as?
the “Habeñera”
How is <b>Carmen</b> portrayed in Carmen?
with childlike playfulness and sensuality
she believes love is fickle
comes as unexpectedly as it leaves
men and women dance in the square, echoing her sentiments
What is the key for <u>act 1, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"</u> in Carmen?
D minor
What is the tempo for <u>act 1, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"</u> in Carmen?
<i>Allegretto quasi Andantino</i>
What does the <b>chromatic descend</b> in <u>act 1, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"</u> mean in Carmen?
it hints at <b>Carmen’s</b> sensuality
What is the <b>ostinato rhythm</b> the <b>cellos</b> playing in <u>act 1, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"</u> in Carmen?
a characteristic of Habeñera, a tango-like dance
What do the <i>pizzicato</i> accompaniment suggest in <u>act 1, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"</u> in Carmen?
Spanish guitars
What does the shift from D minor to Da major mean in <u>act 1, "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"</u> in Carmen?
major mode renders music even more caressing and seduction
Who sings <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
Escamillo (Toreador)
What is the tempo for <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
<i>Allegro molto moderato</i>
What is the key in <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
F minor
What is the time signature for <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
4/4?
What does he melody of the introduction to <b> Escamillo’s theme</b>
sound like in <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
chromatically inflected descending line
What does the <b>brusque rhythm</b> played by the <u>trumpets, horns, and trombones</u> convey in <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
<b>Escamillo’s</b> swaggering nature
What atmosphere does the timpani and triangles create in <u>act 2, "Votre toast , je peux vous le rendre"</u> in Carmen?
adds shimmer to the festive atmosphereW
What is the key for <u>act 2, "Toreador, en garde!"</u> in Carmen?
F major
What is the marking above <u>act 2, "Toreador, en garde!"</u> in Carmen?
<i>con fatuità</i> (with smugness)
indicates <b> vanity (pride)</b>
How is <u>act 2, "Toreador, en garde!"</u> <b>(chorus)</b> different from the <b>verse</b> in Carmen?
it’s more diatonic
What does the ensemble and choir do in <u>act 2, "Toreador, en garde!"</u> in Carmen?
They reiterate the celebratory melody
Frasquita and Mercédès linger on the word “L’amour” in <u>act 2, "Toreador, en garde!"</u> in Carmen. What does Carmen do?
She echoes and her utterance is more angular and chromatic
underscores her new attraction to Escamillo.
