GEORGES BIZET Opera Composer By Kimberly Oakeson HISTORY
GEORGES BIZET Opera Composer By: Kimberly Oakeson
HISTORY v Born October 25, 1838 in Paris, France. v Bizet’s future with music was practically determined for him because his parents were very musical. v It is legend that Bizet could read and write music at four years old. v Bizet entered the Paris Conservatoire de Musique at only eight years old.
YOUTH v At age 13, he took second place in piano. v At age 17, he composed “Symphony in C. ” v At age 19, he won the Prix de Rome award for his operas, “Le Docteur Miracle, ” and “La Jolie Fille de Perth. ”
YOUNG ADULTHOOD v Bizet married Geneviève Halévy, his teacher’s mentally ill daughter. v They had a son who committed suicide. v Bizet also had personal problems such as depression, lack of self-confidence, and periodic angina. v In 1870, Bizet enlisted in the National Guard when the Franco-Prussian war started.
A FRENCH OPERA COMPOSER IS BORN v 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. v Unfortunately, Carmen didn’t become a hit because the Parisians didn’t approve of the murder and immoral scenes.
BIZET’S YOUNG DEATH v Bizet never saw Carmen become famous because of his surprising death on March 3, 1875 at age 37, leaving Geneviève a young widow. v 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 v About five years later after Bizet passed away, Carmen returned to the Parisian stage. v 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’AVAIS JETEE ” v In Act II of Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen, and is sung by Don José in a tavern near Seville, Spain. v There is a story that goes with this song. v It can also be called “Don José's Aria” because an aria is an elaborate song for solo voice.
“L’AMOUR EST UN OISEAU R E B E L L E ” v This song is in Act I of the opera, Carmen. v Carmen sings this song of warning to several men that want her to love them.
“VOTRE TOAST, JE PEUX VOUS LE RENDRE” v This song is sung in both Act 2 and Act 4 in Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen. v 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 FLE UR QUE TU M’AVAI S JETEE” v This song is powerful in the sense that Don José is exclaiming his love to Carmen. v It incorporates many gentle instruments and uses many decrescendos and crescendos. Flower Song
“L’AMOUR EST UN OISEAU REBELLE” v This piece has a fast and lively beat. v It has good contrast and repetition, making it pleasing and memorable to the audience. Habanera
“VOTRE TOAST, JE PEUX VOUS LE RENDRE” v This song has a march rhythm to it. v It is powerful in that the tenor voice is bold and the instruments are mainly brass. Toreador Song
BIBLIOGRAPHY v "Bizet, Georges. " Free-scores. com. VRCI. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. free-scores. com/download-sheet-music. php? pdf=6925>. v "Composers. " Essentials of Music. Sony Music Entertainment. Web. 18 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. essentialsofmusic. com/composer/bizet. html>. v "Georges Bizet - Biography. " Humanities. Web. Ed. Katya Gifford. 22 May 2010. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. humanitiesweb. org/human. php? s=c&p=a&a=i&ID=743>. v 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>. v Green, Aaron. “Habanera Text and Translation. ” 2004. About. com. 21 February 2011 <http: //classicalmusic. about. com/od/opera/qt/habaneralyrics. htm>. v "La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetee (Flower Song). " Every Note. Every. Note Corp. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http: //everynote. com/opera. show/5348. music>.
BIBLIOGRAPHY CONT. v 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>. v "The Life of Georges Bizet. " Music With Ease. Paul Wagner, 2005. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. musicwithease. com/bizet-life. html>. v "Toreador Song, from Carmen PDF Sheet Music File. " Virtual Sheet Music, Inc. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. virtualsheetmusic. com/score/Toreador. Song. html? tab=pdf>. v Westervelt, Bryce. "Carmen – Bizet's Opera. " Suite 101. com Media Inc. , 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. suite 101. com/content/carmen-101 -a 12698>. v Westervelt, Bryce. "La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetée -101. " Suite 101. com. 27 Feb. 2007. Web. 21 Feb. 2011. <http: //www. suite 101. com/content/la-fleur-que-tu-mavais-jete-101 -a 14858>. v Westervelt, Bryce. “Votre Toast, Je Peux le Rendre. ” 27 February 2007. 21 February 2011 <http: //www. suite 101. com/content/votre-toast-je-peux-le-rendre 101 -a 14861>.
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