William Stevenson

Georges Bizet, born Alexandre César Léopold Bizet, was a leading French composer of the Romantic era who gained little success until his final opera, Carmen, posthumously rose to become a celebrated classic. Bizet displayed remarkable musical talent at the Conservatoire de Paris, winning the esteemed Prix de Rome. Despite being an excellent pianist, Bizet's career faltered as his compositions were overlooked, leading him to live by arranging and transcribing. His early operas, including Les pêcheurs de perles and La jolie fille de Perth, saw limited success. His work on Carmen was not immediately appreciated, and he passed away believing it a failure, never witnessing its later triumph. Bizet has since been heralded for his genius and the unfortunate brevity of his career.