Georges Bizet

1838 - 1875

French

Biography

Georges Bizet was born in Paris on October 25th 1838. He was a French romantic composer, writing some notable operas in his time before his career was cut short by his relatively early death. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and saw substantial success in his time there winning myriad prizes including the coveted Prix de Rome in 1857.

He was an outstanding pianist, although he very rarely performed in public, preferring instead to focus upon his composition. After his time in Rome, he returned to Paris finding that most of the Parisian opera houses and theatres were giving overwhelming preference to classical works, rather than new works and as such, his career briefly stalled and he spent much of his time arranging and transcribing for others whilst his own works were ignored.

He served in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 in the National Guard and upon his return to Paris, had some limited success with a one-act opera called Djamileh. An orchestral suite taken from some instrumental music for Daudet’s play L’Arlésienne was immediately very popular.

The premiere of his final and most successful work, Carmen, was delayed because Bizet worried that the themes of betrayal and murder would be too controversial for the opera house stage and would offend audiences. It was premiered on March 3rd 1875 and Bizet was sure that it was a failure. He sadly died of a heart attack three months later, never knowing the success that Carmen would go on to become. 

News

Performances

16th June 2023

SOLOISTS
Mitglieder der Oper Halle
PERFORMERS
Staatskapelle Halle
CONDUCTOR
Michael Wendeberg
LOCATION
Oper, Halle an der Saale, Germany

17th June 2023

SOLOISTS
Jonah Ahlers
PERFORMERS
Allegro Orchestra Lancaster
CONDUCTOR
Brian Norcross
LOCATION
Gardner Theater Lancaster Country Day, Lancaster, PA, United States of America

23rd June 2023

PERFORMERS
Chor des Staatstheater Meiningen; Meininger Hofkapelle
CONDUCTOR
Philippe Bach
LOCATION
Staatstheater, Meiningen, Germany

28th June 2023

PERFORMERS
Chor des Staatstheater Meiningen; Meininger Hofkapelle
CONDUCTOR
Philippe Bach
LOCATION
Staatstheater, Meiningen, Germany

8th July 2023

PERFORMERS
Orchestre National de Lyon
LOCATION
Théâtre Antique, Orange, France

Features

  • Carmen Symphony by Georges Bizet arranged by José Serebrier
    • Carmen Symphony by Georges Bizet arranged by José Serebrier
    • Georges Bizet's Carmen Symphony arranged by José Serebrier is set apart from other as he retains Bizet’s original orchestration with the music much as Bizet intended it. Carmen Symphony is suitable both for concert performance and also for use as music in ballet or dance productions.

Photos

Discography