Georges Bizet
(1838 - 1875)
Typical of his independent mind, Alexandre-César-Léopold Bizet (October 25, 1838 - June 3, 1875) tossed over his baptismal names and took Georges for his own. A native Parisian, he enrolled at nine in the prestigious Conservatoire, starting in piano and ending up in the composition class of Fromental Hálevy, writer of the opera La Juive, among many others. He won the Prix de Rome at the age of 19. Of greater importance to Bizet's composition was the influence of Gounod.
Enjoy classical concerts of Bizet music in Prague. Book tickets online >>>
Bizet's career is a classic example of "not enough time." Although he wrote masterpieces early (his Symphony in C certainly stands as one of the most accomplished of its time and place, and he wrote it at the age of 18), throughout his adult life he had to support himself doing more or less mechanical musical jobs – mainly arranging the orchestral and opera scores of others for the piano or piano and voice. Furthermore, he was severely self-critical, beginning projects and then abandoning them as not good enough. He had trouble finding his artistic path. Les pêcheurs de perles (1863) is his first successful opera, and he cannibalized earlier works to finish it. It had an initial modest run, although most of the Parisian critics hated it. However, Berlioz, the greatest of them all, hailed the composer as a great talent with a brilliant future. For his part, Bizet was overwhelmed, a few weeks later, by the premiere of the older composer's Le Troyens à Carthage, the mutilated version of the masterpiece Les Troyens. In 1867 came the opera La jolie fille de Perth, based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott. Critics gave it a warm reception, but it mustered only a tepid response from the public.
Around 1870, Bizet hit his stride, writing most of the music for which we know him best: the twelve pieces for piano duet, the delightful Jeux d' enfants (1871, six pieces orchestrated 1872), incidental music for Daudet's play L'arlésienne (1872; various numbers arranged into orchestral suites), and, finally, Carmen (1874), which established Bizet as far and away the great 19th-century French opera composer, along with Hector Berlioz. Carmen gave Bizet the greatest success in his lifetime, despite the critics who attacked it, mostly on the grounds of morality. Carmen represented something not exactly new, but nevertheless rarely seen in French opera – a gritty realism and a direct, punchy musical style. Instead of classical, Biblical, or mythic heroes, it dealt with low life in an acute and raw psychological context. Don Jose is no Aeneas. Carmen is no Dido. For that matter, they're not Romeo and Juliet either. Instead of love, the opera talks of sex and its destructive complications. The opera retains its power today, enjoying innovative new productions, most of which emphasize its back-alley atmosphere. Throughout its history, it kept Bizet's name alive until the first modern revival of interest in the Thirties.
During the initial run, Bizet became ill – probably through overwork and depression. Before the run had ended, he suffered two heart attacks and died age 36.
Upcoming classical concerts of the composer's music in Prague:
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May
2
Thursday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
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May
2
Thursday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 17:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
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May
2
Thursday
Famous Concert for organ and orchestra
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
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May
2
Thursday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
2
Thursday
Bolero, Carmina Burana
Time: 19:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
May
2
Thursday
The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
Time: 19:00
Broadway Theatre
-
May
2
Thursday
Great Arias for Soprano and Trumpet
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
May
2
Thursday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
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May
2
Thursday
Abrakadabra
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
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May
2
Thursday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
3
Friday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
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May
3
Friday
Music World between baroque and jazz in a virtuoso performance
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
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May
3
Friday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
3
Friday
Ave Maria, Alleluja and Czech Music
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
May
3
Friday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
May
3
Friday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
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May
3
Friday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
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May
3
Friday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
May
3
Friday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 20:30
St. Giles Church
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May
4
Saturday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
May
4
Saturday
Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
-
May
4
Saturday
FAMOUS EASTER COMPOSITION BY FAMOUS COMPOSERS
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
-
May
4
Saturday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
May
4
Saturday
Ave Maria, Bach-Air
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
May
4
Saturday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
May
4
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)
-
May
4
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
May
4
Saturday
Afrikania
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
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May
4
Saturday
Dvořák's New World Symphony in Smetana Hall, 60 musicians on stage
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
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May
4
Saturday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
May
5
Sunday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
-
May
5
Sunday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
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May
5
Sunday
Concert at Prague Castle - Mozart, Vivaldi and Pachelbel
Time: 17:30
Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica
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May
5
Sunday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 17:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
-
May
5
Sunday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
May
5
Sunday
Bolero, Carmina Burana
Time: 19:00
Spanish Synagogue
-
May
5
Sunday
Great Arias for Soprano and Trumpet
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
-
May
5
Sunday
Strauss, Mozart, Dvorak & Opera with Ballet
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
-
May
5
Sunday
WOW Show
Time: 20:00
WOW - Black Light Theatre
-
May
5
Sunday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel