The opera "Carmen" was written by the French composer
Georges Bizet. The opera is in four acts and the
libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic
Halévy, who based their work on a novella of the same
title by the author Prosper Mérimée. Carmen was first
performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, on 3 March
1875. It was not very successful and its initial run
only consisted of 36 performances. Bizet died suddenly
after the 33rd performance, and thus never saw the
opera's eventual popular...(+)
The opera "Carmen" was written by the French composer
Georges Bizet. The opera is in four acts and the
libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic
Halévy, who based their work on a novella of the same
title by the author Prosper Mérimée. Carmen was first
performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, on 3 March
1875. It was not very successful and its initial run
only consisted of 36 performances. Bizet died suddenly
after the 33rd performance, and thus never saw the
opera's eventual popularity.
The tune "Avec la garde montante" occurs in the first
act :
A group of soldiers relaxes in the square while
waiting for the changing of the guard. A village maiden
called Micaëla approaches the guards and asks to speak
to the Corporal of Dragoons, José. A soldier tells her
that "José is not yet on duty"
and invites her to wait with them, to which she
declines saying she will return later. José then
arrives with the new guard, which is greeted and
imitated by a group of urchins singing "Avec la garde
montante" which in English means "With the new
guard".
Lewis, Alastair (1974 - )
SHEET MUSIC