Georges BIZET

Portrait by Paul Helm
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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.

- Family

- Quotes

- Major Works

- Travels and career

- Links

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

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

"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 bargains on eBay

News

Duet from the Pearl Fishers - Andrea Bocelli & Bryn Terfel

Links - where to go for more information:

- Answers.com
www.answers.com/topic/georges-bizet

- Georges Bizet
www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Georges-Bizet.htm

- His grave
www.findagrave.com