The life of Georges BizetThe life of Georges BizetBorn in Paris on October 25, 1838 by the Born in Paris on October 25, 1838 by the name of Alexander-Cesar Leopoldname of Alexander-Cesar Leopold

Was born to a Singing-master for a father Was born to a Singing-master for a father (Adolph-Armand Bizet), and a pianist of a (Adolph-Armand Bizet), and a pianist of a mother (Aimée Delsarte).mother (Aimée Delsarte).

Was considered a musical prodigy, and was Was considered a musical prodigy, and was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire before he admitted to the Paris Conservatoire before he was of age due to his abilities to distinguish was of age due to his abilities to distinguish the degrees of a scale without flaw.the degrees of a scale without flaw.

Early AccomplishmentsEarly Accomplishments At the conservatoire, Bizet won a Premiere Prix once At the conservatoire, Bizet won a Premiere Prix once

in 1849, then again in 1852 in addition to winning the in 1849, then again in 1852 in addition to winning the second Prix in 1851 in Piano. second Prix in 1851 in Piano.

Bizet also won second Prix for organ and fugue in in Bizet also won second Prix for organ and fugue in in 1855, winning the premier prix for these the next year 1855, winning the premier prix for these the next year as well. as well.

Bizet went on to win the Prix de Rome in 1857 which Bizet went on to win the Prix de Rome in 1857 which led to his studies at the conservatoire being “capped” led to his studies at the conservatoire being “capped” due to Bizet obtaining enough money to subsist on for due to Bizet obtaining enough money to subsist on for three years while he pursued his music. three years while he pursued his music.

Bizet’s InfluencesBizet’s Influences

Georges Bizet took to his composition teacher at the Georges Bizet took to his composition teacher at the conservatoire, Fromental Halevy, who along with conservatoire, Fromental Halevy, who along with teaching had a career in other musical areas such as teaching had a career in other musical areas such as opera and opera comique stagings. opera and opera comique stagings.

Francois DelSarte (Bizet’s Uncle) was a singing Francois DelSarte (Bizet’s Uncle) was a singing teacher (of apparently greater popularity than Bizet’s teacher (of apparently greater popularity than Bizet’s father) and had a great influence on Georges. father) and had a great influence on Georges.

Another person of great influence in Bizet’s life was Another person of great influence in Bizet’s life was Charles GounodCharles Gounod

Gounod was a teacher figure to Bizet, acting in Gounod was a teacher figure to Bizet, acting in place of the ailing Zimmerman.place of the ailing Zimmerman.

Bizet said to Gounod years after his lessons at Bizet said to Gounod years after his lessons at the Conservatoire the Conservatoire “You were the beginning of my life as an artist. “You were the beginning of my life as an artist. I spring from you.”I spring from you.”

Years in RomeYears in Rome

Bizet spent nearly 3 years in Rome, Bizet spent nearly 3 years in Rome, straying from the music of his home at that straying from the music of his home at that time. time.

It was in Rome that Bizet picked up the It was in Rome that Bizet picked up the terrible habit of starting a new composition terrible habit of starting a new composition or opera of some kind, only to abandon or opera of some kind, only to abandon the effort shortly thereafter.the effort shortly thereafter.

it is said that Georges was frustrated with it is said that Georges was frustrated with what he deemed a lack of notable music to what he deemed a lack of notable music to be found in Rome. be found in Rome.

Rome Cont’dRome Cont’d

While Bizet loved the landscape in Italy While Bizet loved the landscape in Italy and the South of France, and especially and the South of France, and especially the people residing in the Italian the people residing in the Italian countryside , at this time Napoleon III had countryside , at this time Napoleon III had his hand in Italian affairs to the point of his hand in Italian affairs to the point of making the presence of Frenchman in Italy making the presence of Frenchman in Italy a politically awkward situation. a politically awkward situation.

Only four out of very few pieces Bizet did Only four out of very few pieces Bizet did during his time in Rome have survived up during his time in Rome have survived up to the present time. to the present time.

Three of these titles were Three of these titles were Don Procopio, Don Procopio, Les pecheurs de perles, Les pecheurs de perles, and and La jolie fille La jolie fille de perth. de perth.

Another habit Bizet picked up at this time Another habit Bizet picked up at this time was that of using old works and was that of using old works and compositions in his new pieces. compositions in his new pieces.

Back in FranceBack in France

Bizet left Rome at the end of nearly three years, Bizet left Rome at the end of nearly three years, learning that his mother was terribly ill. learning that his mother was terribly ill.

She dies in September of 1861She dies in September of 1861 The year following her death saw a scandal The year following her death saw a scandal

involving the birth of a son, Jean, to the Bizet involving the birth of a son, Jean, to the Bizet family maid, Marie Reiter. family maid, Marie Reiter.

In March of 1862 Bizet’s mentor from the In March of 1862 Bizet’s mentor from the Conservatoire, Fromental Helevy died and Conservatoire, Fromental Helevy died and affected Bizet greatly. affected Bizet greatly.

For sometime Bizet had been seen as For sometime Bizet had been seen as such a notable pianist that he was able to such a notable pianist that he was able to make a living by accompanying vocal make a living by accompanying vocal performers or by doing arrangements and performers or by doing arrangements and transcriptions for other artists. transcriptions for other artists.

He hated this, saying once “Be assured He hated this, saying once “Be assured that it is aggravating to interrupt my that it is aggravating to interrupt my cherished work for two days to write solos cherished work for two days to write solos for the cornet-a-pistons. One must live.”for the cornet-a-pistons. One must live.”

Bizet in LoveBizet in Love

Bizet was in love by 1867 with his deceased Bizet was in love by 1867 with his deceased mentor Halevy’s daughter, Genevieve.mentor Halevy’s daughter, Genevieve.

Her mother’s family disapproved of her marrying Her mother’s family disapproved of her marrying an unsuccessful composer.an unsuccessful composer.

The engagement was called off due to The engagement was called off due to opposition from Genevieve’s family.opposition from Genevieve’s family.

They finally married in June of 1869 in a civil They finally married in June of 1869 in a civil ceremony due to Bizet’s distaste for organized ceremony due to Bizet’s distaste for organized religion. religion.

Bizet in WarBizet in War

The outbreak of the Franco-Russian war in 1870 The outbreak of the Franco-Russian war in 1870 had Bizet enlisting in the National Guard, had Bizet enlisting in the National Guard, supporting the idea of the Third Republic supporting the idea of the Third Republic enthusiastically.enthusiastically.

The Armistice in January of 1871 allowed Bizet The Armistice in January of 1871 allowed Bizet and Genevieve to visit her mother, who was and Genevieve to visit her mother, who was borderline insane, which led to the discovery that borderline insane, which led to the discovery that genetics had not been kind to Genevieve, as she genetics had not been kind to Genevieve, as she was also prone to hysterics. was also prone to hysterics.

A downward SpiralA downward Spiral

Bizet’s marriage was suffering during this Bizet’s marriage was suffering during this time, despite the birth of their son Jacques time, despite the birth of their son Jacques in 1872, and was thought to never regain in 1872, and was thought to never regain it’s early luster. it’s early luster.

Genevieve needed constant care for her Genevieve needed constant care for her unstable mental situation. unstable mental situation.

They were separated for a period of two They were separated for a period of two monthsmonths

Bizet’s Greatest Triumph???Bizet’s Greatest Triumph??? Bizet suggested taking Bizet suggested taking CarmenCarmen, a novel by , a novel by

Merimee, and making it an opera. Merimee, and making it an opera. At the time this was happening, Parisian theatre, At the time this was happening, Parisian theatre,

music and opera were being geared toward music and opera were being geared toward families and morals.families and morals.

Bizet’s Bizet’s CarmenCarmen had the effect of creating had the effect of creating elements of Spanish style music, even though he elements of Spanish style music, even though he never actually set foot in Spain.never actually set foot in Spain.

There were repeated postponements and hold There were repeated postponements and hold ups in producing Carmen.ups in producing Carmen.

The first performance was given on March 3 of The first performance was given on March 3 of 1875. 1875.

Final MonthsFinal Months Carmen ran for 45 showings, despite harsh criticisms for Carmen ran for 45 showings, despite harsh criticisms for

going against family ideals and for having a graphic going against family ideals and for having a graphic death scene.death scene.

The criticism it received so saddened Bizet that his The criticism it received so saddened Bizet that his health began to slip, and less than three months after health began to slip, and less than three months after Carmen’s debut, he suffered a flair of Rheumatism and Carmen’s debut, he suffered a flair of Rheumatism and two heart attacks, dying at the age of 36 the night of the two heart attacks, dying at the age of 36 the night of the 3333rdrd performance of Carmen. performance of Carmen.

Ironically, Carmen was brought to Parisian stages five Ironically, Carmen was brought to Parisian stages five years later as a great success and is to this day one of years later as a great success and is to this day one of the most popular Operas going!the most popular Operas going!

Of Bizet’s death, Saint-Saens said he was “Loyal and Of Bizet’s death, Saint-Saens said he was “Loyal and sincere, he never hid either his friendships or sincere, he never hid either his friendships or antipathies…”antipathies…”

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r/bizet.html>. r/bizet.html>.

Wagner, Paul. "Life of Georges Bizet." Wagner, Paul. "Life of Georges Bizet." Music Music With EaseWith Ease. 2009. Music with Ease. 9 Mar 2009 . 2009. Music with Ease. 9 Mar 2009 <http://www.musicwithease.com/bizet-life.html>. <http://www.musicwithease.com/bizet-life.html>.

MacDonald, Hugh. "Bizet, Georges (Alexandre-César-MacDonald, Hugh. "Bizet, Georges (Alexandre-César-Léopold)." Léopold)." Oxford Music OnlineOxford Music Online. 2009. Oxford . 2009. Oxford university university Press. 9 Mar 2009 Press. 9 Mar 2009 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/articl<http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/51829?q=Georges+Bizet&search=quie/grove/music/51829?q=Georges+Bizet&search=quick&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit>. ck&pos=1&_start=1#firsthit>.