MEILHAC, HENRI ( b. Paris 21 Feb 1831; d. Paris 6 July 1897 )
HALÉVY, LUDOVIC ( b Paris 31 Dec 1833; d. Paris 7 May 1908 )
These collaborators’ most famous libretto is Carmen, which they wrote for Bizet. It is based on the novel by Prosper Merimée.
More characteristically they worked in operetta, notably for Offenbach. In this form they frequently satirised contemporary society and opera conventions.
Their original libretto for Carmen has spoken dialogue. It is faithful to the novel and was considered rather low and unsuitable for the opera stage in its time. For many years its dialogue was replaced by recitatives which distorted the original story and characterisation. Modern versions usually revert to the original opéra comique structure.
