carmen - a translated synopsis
here's a synopsis in «english» of the opera carmen, as it appeared in the programme for a recent performance in genoa, italy:"act 1. carmen is a cigarmakeress from a tobago factory who loves with don jose (duet: "talk me of my mother"). there is a noise inside the tobago factory and the revolting cigar-makeresses burst into the stage. carmen is arrested and don jose is ordered to mounting guard her but carmen subduces him and lets her escape.
"act 2. the tavern. carmen, frasquito, mercedes, zuiniga, morales. carmen's aria ("the sistrums are tinkling"). enter escamillio, a balls-fighter. enter two smuglers (duet: "we have in mind a business") but carmen refuses to penetrate because don jose has liberated her from prison. he just now arrives (aria: "slop, here who comes") but here are the bugles singing his retreat. don jose will leave and draws his sword. called by carmen's shrieks the two smuglers interfere with her but don jose is bound to dessert, he will follow into them (final chorus: "opening sky wandering life").
"act 3. a rocky landscape, the smugler's shelter. carmen sees her death in cards and don jose makes a date with carmen for the next balls fight.
"act 4. a place in seville. procession of balls-fighters, the roaring of the balls is heared in the arena. escamillio enters (aria and chorus: "toreador, toreador, all hail the balls of a toreador"). enter don jose (aria: "i do not threaten, i besooch you") but carmen repels him wants to join with escamillio now chaired by the crowd. don jose stabbs her (aria: "oh rupture, rupture, you may arrest me. i did kill her") he sings "oh my beautiful carmen, my subductive carmen."
funny? rather! well, until one realises that somewhere there's a homeless and destitute professional interpreter and translator that could have done the job properly...
