Carmen (Schirmer's Collection of Opera Librettos)

This is a cheap and cheerful libretto. The English translation is a bit free and I think in places lacking the force of the original French. Otherwise it does the job nicely.

This was listed as an "English Translation" when I bought it, but it is not a translation at all. It's actually an English VERSION of the opera, which is what would be used if the opera were performed in English. The emphasis in this case is not at all on literal meaning, because it has to be written in a singable way, matching the cadence of the music, with a specific syllable count, and some pleasing rhyme. I have a lot of respect for the people who came up with this English version, but if you are looking for a translation in order to understand the actual meaning of the original French, this is completely useless.

Excellent libretto thanks

Una forma barata y práctica de contar con el libreto de las mejores óperas. Tamaño y precio adecuados, es un material útil para el estudiante y bueno para el coleccionista.