Georges Bizet

MusicSmiles.com
The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Born in Paris on 25 October 1838, Alexandre Césare Léopold Bizet was best known as Georges. His father was a singing teacher and his mother a gifted pianist. Like his French predecessors Hector Berlioz, and César Franck; Arthur Sullivan's contemporary Jules Massenet; and the younger Claude Debussy; he studied in the Paris Conservatoire. His tutors included the composers Charles Gounod and Fromental Halévy, and Georges married his daughter Geneviève. Whilst there he won several prizes finishing up with the coveted Prix de Rome and a five-year state pension - awarded for his cantata Clovis et Clotilde in 1857. He was a brilliant pianist, and his numerous piano compositions and church music are of high quality. He also composed 8 published operas which broke new ground and set high standards in the genre, two symphonies in C major, and other orchestral music.

Georges served in the National Guard during the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. He was a great admirer of his Italian contemporary Giuseppe Verdi, and was bowled over by the music of Mozart (who isn't!) and Rossini.

His major works include:

	Eight published operas, including Les Pêcheurs de perles (first performed 1863); and Carmen (1875)
	Orchestral works include include: Symphony in C major (1855); Petite Suite arranged from Jeux d'enfants (1871); and suite, L'Arlésienne (1872).
	Thirty-seven published songs, including 'Chanson d'avril' (1866?); and 'Berceuse' (1868).

Although he is best remembered for his world shattering masterpiece, the opera Carmen, his 'failed' three act opera Les Pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) produced a 'jewel' of lasting value - 'Au fond du temple' (our background music for this page). The action was set in an exotic Oriental Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). In London it was produced in 1887, under the title 'Leila', which is the heroine's name. This spine tingling duet for tenor and baritone is still a favourite of concert audiences all over the world. Georges died prematurely (just 38 years old) in Paris on 3 June 1875.

Here is an 'instrumental' arrangement of that memorable melody. Can you feel your spine doing things under Georges' influence? It must inspire all sorts of artistic reactions!

In the meantime float along and hum with him. . .

Would you now like to learn more about Carmen . . .?

To search for an article in our special MusicSmiles Contents table

< < < Click Wise Owl's book < < <

If you quote or print anything from this Web-site please add a link to MusicSmiles.com in your Web-site. Thanks.

This site was last updated on 27 September 2010 .

( Click number to view statistics > > >). Scribe thanks all our 223,547 MusicSmiles visitors up to beginning of September, 2010.

You may find our special effects work best with Microsoft Internet Explorer