Act 1

At a square in Seville, soldiers comment on the people. Micaëla, a village girl, asks the soldiers about the sergeant Don José. He will not be back until after the relief of the guard, so Micaëla will return later.

The female workers at the cigarette factory are on a break. One of them, the bohemian Carmen, has her sights set on Don José. However, he seems unimpressed by her advances.

Micaëla sends love and regards from Don José’s mother who lives in a village not far from Seville. In a letter the mother suggests Don José to marry Micaëla. But Don José is already enthralled by a different kind of love: When he is called away to the cigarette factory to settle a dispute and has to arrest Carmen, love turns into passion: he helps her to escape.

Act 2

In the tavern of Lillas Pastia, a smugglers' den disguised as a bar, one month later. Lieutenant Zuniga, another admirer of Carmen, is at the tavern, but public attention turns to the torero Escamillo, celebrating a successful bullfight. He as well is attracted to Carmen. But Carmen impatiently awaits Don José, who was imprisoned after Carmens escape. After being released his love for Carmen is unchanged. She tries to talk him into becoming a deserter and joining the smugglers. Don José gets into a fight with Lieutenant Zuniga. Zuniga is disarmed and thrown out. Then there is no turning back for Don José now.

Act 3

In the mountains, the bohemians Frasquita and Mercédès ask the cards about their destiny. Carmen also reads the cards: she is destined to die. But in death she will finally be free. She has become indifferent to José. She and her companions will distract the customs officers while the smugglers pass through. José stays behind as a sentry. 

Micaëla – triumphing over fear with the help of love and God – has found her way to the smugglers. She witnesses Don José shooting Escamillo, who only just escapes death. He is apparently stalking Carmen. Out of jealousy Don José reaches for the knife. A fight ensues, Escamillo falls, and it is only the intervention of Carmen and the smugglers that prevents the torero's death.

Act 4

The arena in Seville, sometime later. The people gather for a bullfight and marvel at the procession of the toreros. Escamillo appears, presenting Carmen as his trophy.

Don José confronts Carmen, begging her for her love. But Carmen throws the ring he once gave her at his feet.

While Escamillo is cheered, Don José stabs Carmen. She dies and he surrenders to the police.