Biography of Georges Bizet

Dear Carmen 25 October 1838
3 June 1875

Who is Georges Bizet?


A special place among the musicians of the nineteenth century is occupied by Georges Bizet born in Paris on 25 October 1838, that since childhood revealed remarkable musical trends. The father, singing teacher, was his first teacher. his mother, a talented pianist, belonged to a family of musicians.

The rapid progress made, allowed Bizet to be welcomed at the Paris Conservatoire before having reached the age permitted by the regulations. Georges followed a course of studies at the Conservatory and, after passing her exams with brilliant results, applied himself to the study of piano and composition.

Nineteen, he moved to Italy for further study, he won the "Prix de Rome". Over the study period returned to Paris.

His first major composition was the opera in three acts "the Pearl fishers", set in the Orient and represented in September 1863. The first plays were very successful: Georges Bizet was accused of revealing in his music the influence of Gounod and other composers. At the same time, Bizet was responsible for preparing a composition to accompany the scene d'alfonso Daudet "L'arlesiana". This composition was so successful opposed at first, but over time came to dominate to a worldwide audience. The music inspired by folklore and popular motifs of Provence, revives the Fiery atmosphere this Mediterranean region.

The work in which appeared the full artistic maturity of the author was that even today is widely known: the "Carmen". Bizet devoted himself with enthusiasm and tenacity of the composition of the Carmen, thus creating the last and the most important of his works (which, among other things, he enthused Nietzsche). The action takes place in Spain, in Seville and the nearby mountains.

The first performance of the opera took place in Paris, at the opera Comique in 1875, but was unsuccessful. The plot of the play was judged too immoral and even music did not please lovers of tradition.

Unfortunately Georges Bizet did not experience the success that arrise later in his work and that he would have lit him hope and confidence in himself, because he died at 37 years old, on 3 June 1875, three months away from the first performance, following a heart attack.

From the opera by Bizet was born the modern myth of Carmen and this myth they've seized on cinema (since the 1954 Preminger musical mute to the right up to the latest film by Godard, Rosi, Sauras), dance (Gades and Petit) and theatre in General.

The plot:

"A country's Spanish square On allegra shaman the workers of tobacco factory: it's time for the changing of the guard of the detachment of Dragoons from nearby barracks. Breaks into Carmen's scene, sensual and wild Gypsy, who sings and dances from his. The Brigadier don José is fascinated nor sufficient to avert the looks the pretty and young Micaèla, which by far is to bring you the greetings and the kiss of mother, who wants him to get married. A sudden and bloody dispute between a cigarette girl and Carmen moves the scene: by order of his captain, don José Carmen leads to jail. But the work of seduction continues and the two run away together in the mountains, where don José, between smugglers and gitane, becomes an outlaw. Micaèla, ventured to the mountains to free him from the spell that seems to have bewitched and tear it to Carmen, must declare defeat and from disconsolate.

Later appeared on the horizon Escamillo, a celebrated bullfighter, which Carmen's easy to incapricciarsi. Free spirit as each others ' vacillation, impatient, it arrives to mock don José who, despite languishing for her, doesn't want to defect and increasingly withdraws into a dark jealousy. In a duel with a bullfighter, he'll save: Carmen now despises the Brigadier and volubilmente tip his cards on Escamillo. In the arena of Seville takes place one of the usual bullfighting. Carmen was invited by Escamillo and comes with two gitane her friends to see the Bullfighter in his fight against the Bull. Don Jose, he arrived on the spot, calling out of Carmen in order to give you their romance once again. But every effort is in vain. While Escamillo kills the bull in a blaze of cheers, don José, blinded by passion and jealousy, Carmen stabs himself over to justice ".

Carmen is a free woman, passionate, strong and his singing is varied and rich in nuances: just think of the flirtatious Habanera, the lightness of the Bohemian dance, singing and meditative funeral card scene of the third Act, to the drama of the Duet that closes the work to understand the complexity of the character. Carmen counteracts the innocence and happiness of Micaela, figure of a delicate grace and expressing unequivocally its innocent and shy love. Don Jose is a complex figure that moves on the floor in the first two acts and Lyric drama in the third and fourth Act and therefore needs a full interpreter and voice of great strength and seal. And also the toreador Escamillo is very well outlined with her singing rude and loud.

By Bizet are also two symphonies: the first composed in 1855 at the age of seventeen, and the second began in 1860 during the stay in Rome and named after the Rome Symphony. These two orchestral compositions are distinguished by clarity, lightness and French elegance, but also for the soundness of their structure and rich inventiveness.

Another famous composition is "children's games", written for piano four hands and then transcribed for orchestra. It's an inspired music for children to play and so simple and straightforward, but full of whimsy.