Great
Classical Music
Composers

Georges BIZET

25 October 1838 - 3 June 1875 (age 36)

Portrait by Paul Helm
click on image for more info

Bizet was a French 19th century composer best known for his opera 'Carmen'. He was a child prodigy and lived a short but productive life dying at 36 years old.

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Family

Born: 25 Oct 1838 in Paris. Zodiac: Scorpio
Died: 3 June 1875 in Paris. Age: 36
Cause of death: Heart attacks.
Father: Adolphe - hairdrsser, wigmaker and music teacher
Mother: Aimée - talented pianist
Siblings: none
Wife: Genevieve daughter of his teacher Prof.Jacques Halevy
Children: one son, Jean, with his mother's maid and one son, Jacques, with his wife Genevieve.
Grave Cimetière du Père Lachaise, Paris
Influenced by: Schubert, Gounod, Saint-Saens, Offenbach.

Major Works

- OPERA: Best known for Carmen, he in fact wrote 30 operas, many of which are rarely performed.
- The Pearl Fishers - set in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
- The Fair Maid of Perth
- Djamileh
- Carmen
- ORCHESTRAL: He wrote a symphony when he was 17. It was discovered in 1935 in the archives of the Paris Conservatory where he studied.
- Symphony in C
- Rome Suite
- L'Arlésienne
- PIANO: He was an accomplished pianist and wrote many pieces for the keyboard.
- Chromatic Variations
- Jeux d'Enfants (Children's Games)

Personality

Curly black hair, square jaw, great beard, bright alert eyes, impressive appearance.

He had a good sense of humour and was well liked. He did however have a violent temper and was prone to challenge people to fights or even duels.
Heavy smoker in spite of recurring throat problems (probably throat cancer).
Left-wing politically. Anti-religious. Womaniser.

Quotes

"Ah, music! What a beautiful art! But what a wretched profession!"

"Religion is a means of exploitation employed by the strong against the weak; religion is a cloak of ambition, injustice and vice."

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Travels and Career

Age 9 - Entered Paris Conservatoire (below their minimum age)
Age 17 - Produced the Symphony in C, his first.
Age 19 - Won the prestigious Prix de Rome
Age 20-23 - Lived and studied in Rome at the Villa Medici where he was popular with the other students.
Age 25 - 'The Pearl Fishers', his first important opera, staged in Paris.
Age 31 - Married Genevieve, rich daughter of his former teacher.
Age 32 - Although as Prix de Rome winner he was exempt from conscription, he joined the National Guard to defend Paris in the Siege during the Franco-Prussian War.
Age 34 - Birth of son Jacques
Age 36 - Premier of 'Carmen'.
Appointed chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.
Died of a heart attack 3 months later.

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Amazon Stores

Bizet on Amazon - USA store

Bizet bargains on eBay

On eBay you will find bargains galore but more interestingly there is a treasure chest of old items. Out of print books, old recordings no longer available, memorabilia and goods no longer sold on the High Street.To see what is currently on offer take a look at:

2012 Opera Calendar

Available now.

This calendar has 12 of my portraits, all of opera composers, including George.

Also Puccini, Mozart, Berlioz, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Rossini, Wagner, Bellini, Donizetti, Offenbach and Verdi.

Available from Etsy

There is also:
a 2012 Calendar of French Composers

News

Duet from the Pearl Fishers - Andrea Bocelli & Bryn Terfel

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