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
9
Thursday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
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May
9
Thursday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 17:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
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May
9
Thursday
Music in the changes of the centuries with the soloists of the national theatre
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
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May
9
Thursday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
9
Thursday
Hallelujah
Time: 19:00
Spanish Synagogue
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May
9
Thursday
Ave Maria, Alleluja and Czech Music
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
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May
9
Thursday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
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May
9
Thursday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
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May
9
Thursday
Afrikania
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
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May
9
Thursday
The Great Classical Music
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
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May
9
Thursday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
10
Friday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
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May
10
Friday
The Best of Classics
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
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May
10
Friday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
10
Friday
Famous Ave Maria for Soprano and Violin
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
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May
10
Friday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
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May
10
Friday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 20:00
St. Giles Church
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May
10
Friday
Abrakadabra
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
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May
10
Friday
Strauss, Mozart, Dvorak & Opera with Ballet
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
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May
10
Friday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
10
Friday
WOW Show
Time: 21:30
WOW - Black Light Theatre
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May
11
Saturday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
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May
11
Saturday
Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
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May
11
Saturday
Beautiful Ave Maria Songs in the Changes of Time and much more
Time: 18:00
St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square
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May
11
Saturday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
-
May
11
Saturday
Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague
Time: 19:00
Boccaccio Ballroom
-
May
11
Saturday
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Time: 19:00
Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral
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May
11
Saturday
Famous Ave Maria, Czech Baroque Music
Time: 19:00
St. Francis Church
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May
11
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Tyn Church)
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May
11
Saturday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 19:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
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May
11
Saturday
Music From Movies
Time: 20:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall
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May
11
Saturday
The Best of Image
Time: 20:00
Image - Black Light Theatre
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May
11
Saturday
The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel
Time: 20:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
12
Sunday
Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace
Time: 13:00
Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace
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May
12
Sunday
Vivaldi Four Seasons
Time: 17:00
St. Giles Church
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May
12
Sunday
Concert at Prague Castle - Mozart, Vivaldi and Pachelbel
Time: 17:30
Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica
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May
12
Sunday
Classic Spectacular
Time: 17:30
Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)
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May
12
Sunday
The Four Seasons, Gypsy Airs Op. 20
Time: 18:00
Municipal House (Obecní dům), Art Nouveau Hall
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May
12
Sunday
Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel
Time: 18:00
Klementinum, Mirror Chapel
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May
12
Sunday
Bolero, Carmina Burana
Time: 19:00
Spanish Synagogue