Georges Bizet, Composer
Famous for Songs 'Habanera' and 'The Toreador's Song', from Carmen
French composer Georges Bizet's brief biography - his life and works. Best known for his masterpiece 'Carmen,' one of best-loved operas staged worldwide.
Bizet's Early Years
French composer Georges Bizet (1838-1875) is best known for his masterpiece Carmen, extremely popular to this day. Bizet, born in Paris on October 25 1838, was trained by his parents who were musical, his father a pianist and a voice teacher.
Bizet's Early Musical Training and Influence
He was admitted to the Paris Conservatory before his 10th birthday. There he studied counterpoint with Zimmerman and Gounod and composition with Halevy. Under Marmontel, he became a brilliant pianist. In particular, Halevy (composer of La Juive) and Gounod (composer of Faust) had strong influence on his career.
Bizet's Early Compositions
His exceptional strengths as a composer were apparent from his conservatory years, especially his Symphony in C (1855). This was followed by his operetta, Le Docteur Miracle (The Miracle Doctor),the start of his operatic career.
During his three years in Rome, Bizet started many compositions but shortly after his return to Paris, in September 1861, his mother died. He was devastated, and consoled himself with his parents’ maid by whom he had a son.
Bizet's Career and Final Years
Bizet lived Paris during a time when opera in Paris was at its height, with almost all 19th-century opera composers including Wagner and Verdi, wanted to perform their works in Paris Opéra.
In 1863, he produced the opera Les pecheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers).
With more abortive works and his quinsy, the year 1868 was a crisis for Bizet. It was also during this time that he re-examined his religious beliefs. He was convinced that in Djamileh he had found his true path.
He produced the incidental music and his most popular orchestral work L’Arlesienne (The Girl from Arles), followed by his operatic masterpiece Carmen in 1874 From Carmen's inspiration, he reached new levels in his depiction of musical character and atmosphere. However, his Carmen was condemned for its ‘obscene’ libretto, and the music was criticized as undistinguished, obscure, and without taste. This reception left Georges Bizet devastated, acutely depressed. He fell victim to another attack of quinsy, and with two heart attacks in June 1875 from which he died on June 3 1875 in Bougival.
Sadly, he never knew of the success of his masterpiece Carmen, as his death occurred exactly three months after its world premiere. Only then was true stature appreciated, his masterpiece Carmen, and the master, Bizet.
George Bizet's Major Works:
- Symphony in C 1855
- Operetta, Le Docteur Miracle ('The Miracle Doctor') 1856
- Opera, Les pecheurs de perles ('The Pearl Fishers') 1863
- Opera, La jolie fille de Perth, based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott 1866
- Opera, Djamileh 1871
- Jeux d'enfants for piano duet, orchestrated as 'Petite Suite' 1871
- Incidental music to Alphonse Daudet's play L'Arlésienne Suites 1 & 2 ('The Girl from Arles') 1872
Suggested Work:
Carmen, Erato 2292-45207-2 J. with Migenes (Carmen) and P. Domingo (Don José)
Source Consulted:
The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd Ed, edited by Stanley Sadie (2000)
