New Millennium Strings

Georges Bizet

Symphony No. 1 in C Major

Georges Bizet was born in Paris in 1838 and died in Bougival in 1875. During his early life, Bizet was educated in music by his parents, who were professional musicians. He entered the Paris Conservatory at age ten. There he studied counterpoint with Zimmerman and Gounod. Bizet studied composition under Halevy and also became a brilliant pianist under the tutorship of Marmontel. The precocious youngster won numerous prizes for composition, which culminated at the Prix de Rome in 1857. In 1855 he composed the Symphony No. 1 in C Major, which was not performed until 1935. It is an energetic and brilliant symphony which was composed by the seventeen year old genius.

While in Rome for three years, he composed opera buffa as seen in his composition Don Procopio. After he returned to Paris, he produced more opera comique in La guzla de l'emir. Finally in 1875, he produced the opera Carmen. This is the work for which he is most admired. Although the critics were very harsh following the first performance, the opera gained popularity later.

Bizet's life was cut short at age 36 when he passed away from a throat infection and heart attack. He will be remembered historically for his rescue of opera-comique. Bizet transformed opera-comique and saved it from the artificialities of opera, and he imbued it with vivid expression and passion.

-- program notes by Laurien Jones

May, 2001