Georges Bizet
(25 October 1838–3 June 1875)
Georges Bizet (1838–1875), born Alexandre César Léopold Bizet, was a French composer best known for his operas. A child prodigy, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1857. Despite his exceptional talent, Bizet achieved little recognition during his lifetime. His final opera, “Carmen” (1875), initially received a mixed reception but soon became one of the most beloved and frequently performed works in the entire operatic repertoire. Bizet died only three months after its premiere, never witnessing the extraordinary success his masterpiece would later achieve.
Operas
| Opera | Premiere or date of written | Libretti available |
|---|---|---|
Carmen  |
1875, March 3 | french, german, english, russian |
History
- March 3, 1875 — Georges Bizet’s "Carmen" premieres at the Opéra-Comique (Salle Favart) in Paris.
- January 9, 1884 — Georges Bizet’s "Carmen" received its first Metropolitan Opera (New York) performance on 9 January 1884.
- April 17, 1906 — The Metropolitan Opera performed Bizet's 'Carmen' in San Francisco, featuring Enrico Caruso and Olive Fremstad. The following morning, the city was struck by a devastating earthquake.
