Smithsonian Associates: Georges Bizet and Carmen – A Life in Music, a Legacy in Opera

When Georges Bizet died suddenly and tragically at the early age of 36 in 1875, his new opera, Carmen, had just been dubbed a humiliating failure, panned by critics at its Paris premiere barely three months beforehand. Bizet would never know that only a few months later its performances in Vienna, St. Petersburg, London, and New York were triumphant, and this vibrant and revolutionary work has never been absent from the world’s opera stages since then.

In this 150th anniversary year of both Bizet’s death and Carmen’s birth, popular speaker and concert pianist Rachel Franklin explores how, despite enjoying only modest success during his lifetime, Bizet’s innovative, emotionally compelling style has influenced countless composers and profoundly shaped opera history to this day. Additional works showcased include his opera The Pearl Fishers, the Symphony in C, and his L’Arlésienne Suites.

British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and NPR, exploring intersections among classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts.