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{bee-zay'}
Georges Bizet, b. Oct. 25, 1838, d. June 3, 1875, was a great
French composer best known for his opera CARMEN. His parents
were musicians, and he showed musical talent at an early age.
Shortly before his tenth birthday Bizet entered the Paris
Conservatory, where he studied theory with Pierre Joseph Guillaume
Zimmerman and, occasionally, with Charles GOUNOD and composition
with Jacques HALEVY. His earliest known compositions were
written at the age of 12; his first published works date from
1854. In 1857 Bizet's cantata Clovis et Clotilde won the Prix
de Rome. In December of that year he went to Rome, where he
remained until July 1860. Despite the financial security of
these years, Bizet began to have doubts about his talent.
He was also afflicted by chronic throat trouble, which he
endured for the rest of his life. He completed only three
compositions between 1857 and 1860.
Bizet's first important opera, The Pearl Fishers, was performed
without success in 1863. In 1867 he was engaged to Genevieve
Halevy, the daughter of his former teacher. They married in
1869 and had a son, Jacques.
Late in 1867, Bizet's new opera, The Fair Maid of Perth, was
successful but had only 18 performances. Another opera, Djamileh,
failed in 1872, as did the production of Alphonse DAUDET's
drama L'Arlesienne (The Girl from Arles), with music by Bizet.
His masterpiece, Carmen, composed in 1873-74 and produced
in 1875, was poorly received, although it ran for 48 performances.
Bizet's depression was renewed by the disappointment, and
his throat ailment was aggravated. He died a few hours after
the 31st performance of Carmen.
Besides operas, Bizet wrote piano pieces, songs, orchestral
music, and choral music. His fame, however, rests predominantly
on Carmen, an early Symphony in C Major, the music to L'Arlesienne,
and a suite for piano duet, Jeux d'enfants (Children's Games).
He projected or began many works but completed few and even
destroyed some. His style incorporates long melodic lines
influenced by Gounod and classical form inspired by Mozart
and Beethoven.
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