After Carmen is caught fighting in the factory, Joe must deliver her to the jailhouse. When they stop midway on a rural road, Carmen sees an opportunity to regain her liberty. In this provocative, flirtatious song, she urges Joe to let her go and suggests that they instead go out dancing together. In the “Seguidilla” from Bizet’s opera Carmen, the … Read More

When the men in the factory vie for Carmen Jones’ attention, she declares that loving her would be the end of them. Oscar Hammerstein’s new lyric to Bizet’s “Habanera” (“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” or “Love Is a Rebellious Bird”) maintains the original’s coquettish quality but adds a distinctly American flair. Like the original aria, “Dat’s Love” establishes Carmen as … Read More