Georges Bizet

Date of Birth: October 25, 1838

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: June 3, 1875

Biography

Georges Bizet, born Alexandre César Léopold Bizet, was a French composer of the Romantic era, best known for his opera “Carmen.” Born on October 25, 1838, in Paris, France, Bizet showed prodigious musical talent from a young age. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatory of Music at the age of nine, where he excelled in piano and composition. Bizet’s early works included symphonies, operas, and piano pieces, but it was his operatic compositions that garnered him the most acclaim. His first significant opera, “Les pêcheurs de perles” (“The Pearl Fishers”), premiered in 1863 and contained the famous duet “Au fond du temple saint.” However, it was “Carmen,” premiered in 1875, that cemented his legacy. Despite a lukewarm reception at its debut, “Carmen” eventually became one of the most performed operas worldwide, celebrated for its vibrant melodies and dramatic intensity. Tragically, Bizet’s life was cut short by a heart attack on June 3, 1875, just three months after the premiere of “Carmen.” He was only 36 years old. His posthumous fame grew significantly, and he is now regarded as one of the greatest opera composers of all time.

5 Interesting Facts about Georges Bizet

1. Georges Bizet won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1857, a scholarship for arts students that allowed him to study in Rome for three years.

2. Despite his untimely death, Bizet composed more than 30 operas, symphonies, and other works.

3. Bizet was a close friend of fellow composer Charles Gounod, who influenced his musical style.

4. “Carmen” was initially criticized for its “immorality” and unconventional characters but later became a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire.

5. Bizet was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, where many other famous artists and musicians are also interred.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Georges Bizet

1. “As a musician, I tell you that if you were to suppress adultery, fanaticism, crime, evil, the supernatural, there would no longer be the means for writing one note.”

2. “I want to do nothing chic, nothing grandiose, nothing that smells of the lamp; I want to write music that is like the human voice, that speaks to the heart.”

3. “Ah! Music is the soul of a people.”

4. “I know I am a fool to ask for glory, but I do ask for it.”

5. “Love is rebellious bird that nobody can tame, and it is simply in vain to call it if it chooses to refuse.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Georges Bizet did not achieve substantial wealth during his lifetime. His highest net worth was modest, as he struggled financially and faced criticism for many of his works. However, his compositions, especially “Carmen,” have generated considerable posthumous revenue.

Children

Georges Bizet had one child, a son named Jacques Bizet, born on July 10, 1872, with his wife Geneviève Halévy. Jacques later became a playwright and a close friend of Marcel Proust.