Although almost unanimously condemned by contemporary Parisian critics for its overt sexuality and graphic final scene Carmen ultimately reached the public in a way that perhaps no other opera has. Bizet's aim (with Meilhac and Halevy who wrote the libretto) had been to transform the flaccid moralistic bourgeois genre of opéra comique into a more sophisticated type of staged work and he seems to have suceeded in Carmen. Each character has a musical significance and a unique expressive idiom the ultimate example being the dangerous exotic sensual Carmen herself depicted by an exotic and sinewy chromatic motive that also implies the insurmountable power of fate. Ina classic plot device she is contrasted with the 'good girl' of the opera Micaela whose main aria is set in the ternary form of the elevated bel canto French Grand Opera aria to imply her traditionally 'ladylike' retiring nature. Don José's musical styles reflect different levels in his descent from dutiful soldier to the underworld of obsession. This is the Schirmer edition of the Vocal Score with an English translation by Ruth and Thomas Martin.

Vocal Score-Bizet died on 3rd June 1875 exactly three months after the first performance of his Carmen which had met with a cool reception. This caused the already undermined composer to fall into a depression which most probably led him to take his own life. The following October Carmen was a triumph in Vienna and ever since this opera has been considered an all-time classic. Inspired by the tale of the same name by Prosper Mérimée (1845) the opera tells the story of the gypsy girl Carmen: a free passionate spirit she generously gives herself in love yet fights off all attempts to tie her down. Bizet invented music to suit her character: impetuous and passionate. Andhe turns Spain (a country he never actually visited) into a land of violent passion. Speaking of this opera the philosopher Nietzsche said 'When we listen to Carmen we too become a masterpiece'.