Here the action is in El Paso, Texas/Juarez, Mexico where Bizet’s tale of Carmen, the seductress, who lures Don José a US Customs and Immigration Enforcer away from his duties, and his childhood sweetheart Micaela unfolds.

Circumstance lands José in hot water with very little choice other than to join Carmen’s band of drug smugglers.  Once José has left his other life behind, Carmen quickly tires of José and his jealous rages, and ditches him for the celebrated rodeo bull-rider Escamillo.

In the final act, Carmen’s intent to join Escamillo at the Rodeo Finals is thwarted by Don José, whose life now in ruins exacts his revenge.

Carmen, the most famous of Bizet’s operas, introduced a note of realism into opera that proved unacceptable to many who saw the first performances. Objection was taken to the wild and immoral behaviour of Carmen, and her final murder on the stage.