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GEORGES BIZET Opera Composer By: Kimberly Oakeson HISTORY Born October 25, 1838 in Paris, France. Bizet’s future with music was practically determined for him because his parents were very musical. It is legend that Bizet could read and write music at four years old. Bizet entered the Paris Conservatoire de Musique at only eight years old. YOUTH At age 13, he took second place in piano. At age 17, he composed “Symphony in C.” At age 19, he won the Prix de Rome award for his operas, “Le Docteur Miracle,” and “La Jolie Fille de Perth.” YOUNG ADULTHOOD Bizet married Geneviève Halévy, his teacher’s mentally ill daughter. They had a son who committed suicide. Bizet also had personal problems such as depression, lack of self-confidence, and periodic angina. In 1870, Bizet enlisted in the National Guard when the Franco-Prussian war started. A FRENCH OPERA COMPOSER IS BORN Bizet wrote many operas, his most famous being, Carmen, which was the first opera to move away from comic opera to a more profound and tragic story. Unfortunately, Carmen didn’t become a hit because the Parisians didn’t approve of the murder and immoral scenes. BIZET’S YOUNG DEATH Bizet never saw Carmen become famous because of his surprising death on March 3, 1875 at age 37, leaving Geneviève a young widow. He experienced a more severe episode of angina which resulted in a heart attack as well as the anxieties and long hours he spent composing Carmen. A HAPPY ENDING About five years later after Bizet passed away, Carmen returned to the Parisian stage. The songs, “Habanera,” and “Toreador” are world-wide favorites from Carmen. COMPOSITION HISTORIES “La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetee” “L’amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle” “Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous Le Rendre” “ La Fleur Que Tu M’ava is Jetee ” In Act II of Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen, and is sung by Don José in a tavern near Seville, Spain. There is a story that goes with this song. It can also be called “Don José's Aria” because an aria is an elaborate song for solo voice. “ L’ a m o u r E s t U n O i s e a u Re b e l l e ” This song is in Act I of the opera, Carmen. Carmen sings this song of warning to several men that want her to love them. “ Vo t r e To a s t , Je Pe u x Vo u s L e Re n d r e ” This song is sung in both Act 2 and Act 4 in Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen. It was sung in celebration of a bull fight. LISTENING GUIDES “La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetee” “L’amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle” “Votre Toast, Je Peux Vous Le Rendre” “La Fleur Que Tu M’ava is Jetee ” This song is powerful in the sense that Don José is exclaiming his love to Carmen. It incorporates many gentle instruments and uses many decrescendos and crescendos. Flower Song “ L’ a m o u r E s t U n O i s e a u Re b e l l e ” This piece has a fast and lively beat. It has good contrast and repetition, making it pleasing and memorable to the audience. Habanera “ Vo t r e To a s t , Je Pe u x Vo u s L e Re n d r e ” This song has a march rhythm to it. It is powerful in that the tenor voice is bold and the instruments are mainly brass. Toreador Song BIBLIOGRAPHY "Bizet, Georges." Free-scores.com. VRCI. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=6925>. "Composers." Essentials of Music. Sony Music Entertainment. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. <http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/composer/bizet.html>. "Georges Bizet - Biography." HumanitiesWeb. Ed. Katya Gifford. 22 May 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=c&p=a&a=i&ID=743>. Green, Aaron. "A Profile of the Aria "Habanera” Classical Music at About.com. The New York Times Company. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/p/habanera_bizet_carmen_profile.htm>. Green, Aaron. “Habanera Text and Translation.” 2004. About.com. 21 February 2011 <http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/qt/habaneralyrics.htm>. "La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetee (Flower Song)." Every Note. EveryNote Corp. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://everynote.com/opera.show/5348.music>. BIBLIOGRAPHY CONT. Paterson, Jim. "Georges Bizet - an Overview of the Classical Composer." Mfiles. Music Files Ltd, Mar. 2001. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <http://www.mfiles.co.uk/composers/Georges-Bizet.htm>. "The Life of Georges Bizet." Music With Ease. Paul Wagner, 2005. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://www.musicwithease.com/bizet-life.html>. "Toreador Song, from Carmen PDF Sheet Music File." Virtual Sheet Music. Virtual Sheet Music, Inc. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/score/ToreadorSong.html?tab=pdf>. Westervelt, Bryce. "Carmen – Bizet's Opera." Suite101.com. Suite101.com Media Inc., 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://www.suite101.com/content/carmen-101-a12698>. Westervelt, Bryce. "La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetée -101." Suite101.com. 27 Feb. 2007. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http://www.suite101.com/content/la-fleur-que-tu-mavais-jete-101-a14858>. Westervelt, Bryce. “Votre Toast, Je Peux le Rendre.” 27 February 2007. 21 February 2011 <http://www.suite101.com/content/votre-toast-je-peux-le-rendre101-a14861>.