Georges Bizet

Born in Paris in 1838 into a musical family, Georges Bizet showed remarkable talent early and entered the Paris Conservatoire as a child. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1857, and during his short career he wrote operas, orchestral works, and piano music marked by energy, lyricism, and sharp theatrical instinct.

Although he composed several notable works, including Les pêcheurs de perles and music for L'Arlésienne, Bizet struggled for consistent success during his lifetime. His greatest achievement, Carmen, premiered in 1875 and was not immediately embraced by everyone, even though it would soon be recognized as a masterpiece.

Bizet died the same year, at just 36, only months after Carmen first reached the stage. Since then, his reputation has grown enormously, and he is now remembered as one of the defining French composers of the 19th century.