Carmen: Act I, Scene and Habanera: L’amour est un oiseau rebelle

While it scandalized Parisian audiences at its premiere by the Opéra-Comique in Paris on March 3rd, 1875, Georges Bizet’s (1838-1875) Carmen became, a mere decade later, one of the most popular and frequently performed operas in the repertoire. It remains popular today, with songs such as the “Habanera” and “Toreador Song” among the best known of all opera arias. “Habanera” is the popular name for “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle,” sung by the the title character during her first entrance in Act I.