Remembering ‘Carmen’ opera composer Georges Bizet

CAIRO – 25 October 2017: Wednesday marks the iconic French composer Georges Bizet’s birthday. In memory of the legendary composer, Egypt Today sheds light on some of his historic achievements.

Bizet is a French composer who lived in the Romantic Era; he is mostly known for his opera composition “Carmen.”

His father was a singing teacher and his mother was a pianist who gave him his early music lessons.

As a talented composer he owned the skills and capacity to compose his first symphony at only 17.

His music is characterized by outstanding piano tunes, however his early compositions were ignored and he had to earn his living by transcribing others’ music.

Since the 1860s, Bizet started to contribute in the theatrical scene. Some of his early theatrical projects were abandoned except for two operas; “The Pearl Fishers” and “La Jolie Fille de Perth.” Both operas gained prestigious popularity.

His one act “Djaileh” opera comique (a genre of French opera which contains dialogue) was deemed successful for its complicated influential music.

“Carmen,” which is one of the most celebrated operas in the international repertoire, was Bizet’s final work. It first premiered in 1875, after which Bizet commented; “I have written a work that is all clarity and vivacity, full of color and melody," according to “The Rough Guide to Opera” by Matthew Boyden and Nick Kimberley.

The renowned opera composer later died from a heart attack aged 36.