Carmen

Act I and II

We are in a valley along which pilgrims are travelling. The sun does not

shine here, and God is far, far away. The travellers are people of all races,

classes and nationalities, adults and children, living and dead.

They are on their way to the devilish nymph Goplana to ask her for a

moment's relief from their purgatorial suffering. The demonic queen of Lake

Gopło emerges from the water's surface and tells her servants Skierka and

Chochlik about how she fell in love with a village boy who tumbled into her

lake the previous winter. She wanted to keep him at her side. She knew the boy

would die if he stayed underwater. When she saw a hand coming from above to

rescue him, she let him go. Listening to their mistress's story, Skierka and

Chochlik realize she is talking about Grabiec, a stable boy who is

clandestinely meeting with Balladyna, the daughter of an impoverished

gentlewoman.

Grabiec appears in his boat. He sings of the appeal of a simple rural

life and his love for Balladyna. Intoxicated by his presence, Goplana offers

him anything he might desire if only he will stay with her. Grabiec turns her

down, not mincing his words. He finds the devilish nymph repulsive. He flees.

Chochlik promises to get rid of Balladyna and win Grabiec for his mistress.

Meanwhile, Prince Kirkor rides by the lake on his way back from war with

his friend and servant Kostryn the knight and other soldiers. He is tormented

by melancholy and anxiety. He sees a swallow and follows it, singing a song

about his longing for pure love. The bird leads him to the Widow and her two

daughters. One of them is Balladyna, a dark-haired beauty and Grabiec's

beloved. The girl makes a huge impression not only on Kirkor but mainly on

Kostryn, who immediately recognizes her as a dark kindred spirit. The other one

is Alina. The prince cannot stop marvelling at the sisters' noble beauty,

Balladyna's devotion and Alina's artlessness. He is unable to choose between

them. Chochlik whispers to the Widow to have her daughters take jugs in the

morning and go raspberry picking. The one who first brings a hundred

raspberries will be Kirkor's wife. The Widow suggests this strange idea to the

prince. Alina, watched by Chochlik, prays for success in the following day's

undertaking.

Balladyna slips away to meet Grabiec. They both fall asleep in his boat

in the middle of the lake. Skierka and Chochlik rouse the boy from his sleep

and lead him to their mistress. Rejected once again, Goplana turns Grabiec into

a willow.

Balladyna is awoken by Alina, who is holding a jug filled with

raspberries. Balladyna is angry with herself, especially since her sister brags

about her victory. She reaches for a knife and kills Alina. When she returns

home she lies to her mother that Alina has eloped with a lover from the

village. A mark the colour of berries and blood appears on Balladyna's

forehead. Kirkor takes her to his castle.

Act III

Balladyna is alone in the castle. Kirkor has gone away, leaving the

estate and his wife in Kostryn's care. The woman analyses what has happened and

decides there is no turning back, she has to "follow destiny's path".

Kostryn enters. Balladyna sounds out his soul and opens up to him,

allowing him to show his feelings. A procession of guests is approaching the

castle. The princess asks Kostryn to help her receive them at a banquet. She is

left alone, but her mother soon appears to tell her a dream in which she had a

visit from Alina in a bloodstained white dress. Seeing Balladyna's reaction and

her unwillingness to show her mother the mysterious stain on her forehead, the

Widow realizes that her daughters were in a sororicidal fight.

Grabiec appears at the banquet. He is changed, accompanied by a strange

retinue that also includes Skierka and Chochlik. Balladyna does not recognize

her former lover in the prince from a distant land. Grabiec sings, revealing

his identity to the princess and telling her that as a willow he witnessed her

crime. Terrified, Balladyna orders Kostryn to poison the guest. The knight proposes

a toast in the honour of Grabiec, who drinks from the poisoned cup and dies.

Kirkor enters. The situation he sees rouses his anger. Balladyna accuses

Kostryn of having violated her virtue and poisoned the guest.

The Widow arrives, exposing her daughter to the prince as a murderess

and pointing to the band on Balladyna's forehead as proof of the crime.

Everyone demands that the princess take off the tiara concealing the mark. As

Balladyna uncovers her forehead, she is hit by a bolt of lightning sent down by

the angry Goplana. The girl dies.

Krzysztof Knurek

Act III

The temple

In the shadow of the Great Buddha, a bronze idol dances as the High Brahmin and the priests prepare for the wedding of Gamzatti and Solor. The betrothed couple enter, and the bayadères perform a ritual candle dance round them, reminiscent of the Sacred Fire burning outside the temple. The Rajah, Gamzatti and Solor dance, but Solor is haunted by the vision of Nikiya, which is visible only to him. During the dance, a basket of flowers identical to the one given to Nikiya mysteriously appears, and Gamzatti, terrified and consumed with guilt, urges her father to complete the wedding ceremony. The High Brahmin performs the ceremony on the steps of the altar, but Solor cannot force himself to say the vows. The infuriated gods destroy the temple and bury everyone under its ruins. The spirits of Nikiya and Solor are reunited in eternal love.