Georges Bizet

Born in Paris on October 25, 1838, Georges Bizet showed unusual musical talent from an early age and studied at the Paris Conservatoire. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome while still young, and his gifts as a pianist and composer were clear long before he became famous.

During his lifetime, Bizet often struggled to win lasting success, even though he wrote operas, orchestral works, piano music, and songs. His masterpiece Carmen premiered in 1875 and received a mixed response at first, but it soon became one of the most performed and admired operas in the world.

Bizet died on June 3, 1875, only a few months after Carmen opened. His career was brief, but the freshness, energy, and emotional directness of his music gave him a permanent place among the great composers of the 19th century.