The famous opera comique that was based on a mid-century Prosper Merimee novella, in which Nell Rankin was particularly admired for her performance in the title role, perhaps the most famous "opra comique", is a tragedy not a comedy.
 Associated with the Paris theatre of the same name, "opra comique" is not always comic or light in nature; "Carmen", perhaps the most famous "opra comique", is a tragedy. 
Carmen (] ; ] ) is an opera in four acts by French composer Georges Bizet. 
 The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halvy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mrime. 
 She was particularly admired for her portrayals of Amneris in Verdi's "Aida" and the title role in Bizet's "Carmen". " 
