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Born into a musical family in 1838, Georges Bizet inherited his parents’ talents, learning to read and write music by age four. Georges had the huge honor of being admitted into the Paris Conservatoire de Musique at nine years old. Bizet continued to awe people when he wrote his first symphony at the age of seventeen for a class assignment at the conservatory. As a city known for high fashion, fine food, and culture, Paris was the perfect place for a young composer because it attracted talented musicians and eager audiences.

As a young man, Bizet worked at the Opéra Comique, where he learned about the backstage, sets, lights, performers, and musicians. However, when the curtain went up for the premier of Carmen, people were shocked and dismayed by the dramatic and risqué story. In fact, Carmen did not gain popularity until after Bizet’s early death at age thirty-seven in 1875. Even though Carmen is now considered a classic in opera repertoire, Georges Bizet died thinking his work was a complete disaster.

Operas by Georges Bizet

• Le docteur Miracle, 1857; Bouffes-Parisiens, Paris
• Don Procopio, 1906; Monte Carlo
• Ivan IV, 1946; Mühringen Castle, Württemberg
• Les pêcheurs de perles, 1863; Théâtre Lyrique, Paris
• La jolie fille de Perth, 1867; Théâtre Lyrique, Paris
• Marlbrough s’en va-t-en guerre, 1867; Théâtre Athénée, Paris
• La coupe du roi de Thulé, (excerpts) 1955; BBC Radio, London
• Noé, 1885; Karlsruhe
• Djamileh, 1872; Opéra-Comique, Paris
• L’Arlésienne, 1872; Théâtre Vaudeville, Paris
• Carmen, 1875; Opéra-Comique, Paris

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Content Specialist, Digital Learning

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Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..

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