The gypsy characters in this story come from the fringes of Spanish society. Carmen herself is one of a disenfranchised people faced with racism and discrimination. They choose survival through whatever means they can. Her ‘in your face’ attitude in Act One and her iron-like defiance at the opera’s climax make us uncomfortable, but it represents a supreme courage to stand up to anything. In this sense, she is the heroine of this story.
Listen to Lillian Groag discuss the social and cultural setting of this story.
Video shot at the Strauss Performing Art Center in community partnership between Opera Omaha and University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Communication Fine Arts and Media, CFAM.