<P>The Composer of the Classic Opera Carmen Was Born in 1838 Near Paris

Georges Bizet (1838-1875)

The composer of the classic opera "Carmen" was born in 1838 near Paris. Bizet's first teacher was his father, a noted voice teacher and pianist. Later he studied at the Paris Conservatory, where one of his instructors was Gounod. At 19, Bizet won the prestigious Prix de Rome.

Bizet's first opera, "La Maison du Docteur," was written when he was only 14. He wrote "Le Docteur Miracle" in 1857, winning the Prix de Rome. This piece was later performed at the Bouffes-Parisiens. Bizet used the prize money from the award to subsidize his stay in Paris. From 1858 to 1860, Bizet started several operas, but managed to only finish one, "Don Procopio." This opera, written in 1859, was not put on stage until 1906. Lacking commercial success, Bizet made his living from teaching the piano, and as a accompanist for other people's work.

Yet, he still wrote. The 1863 opera, "Les Pêcheurs de Perles," takes place in the Orient, and probably contains material from his earlier, unfinished operas. The opera did not meet with either commercial or critical success. Hector Berlioz, who praised the opera, was one notable exception. Nevertheless, Bizet received a commission for another work, the five-act "Ivan IV" in 1865. Sadly, production on this opera had to be abandoned after many delays and problems. "Ivan IV" had to wait until 1946 before being received on stage.

Other operas followed, by none of them were commercial or critical successes. The production of "La Jolie Fille de Perth" was met with better reviews, but not commercial acclaim. The same was true of "Djamileh," written in 1871.

Despite his failures, Bizet was asked to write an opera based on Merimee's "Carmen." Controversy surrounded the piece because of its subject matter. Bizet refused to water-down the material, despite the fear that the opera would alienate the public. The public was alienated. The opera closed after only 48 performances. Yet, a year after Bizet's death, the piece was revived with a series of triumphant performances in Vienna. "Carmen" is recognized as Bizet's masterpiece, and a classic.

Bizet died in 1875 at the age of 42.

Born in Salzburg, the son of a composer, Mozart was a musical prodigy. From a very early age, his father exhibited him in Paris, Munich, London, and Vienna. From his travels with his father, Mozart was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles. From a very early age, Mozart showed a mastery of the operatic style. At the age of 12, he composed the singspiel, "Bastien and Bastienne," and a year later, the opera buffe, "La Finta Semplice."

In 1775, Mozart held an unrewarding position in the Salzburg court. Mozart traveled widely with his mother, searching for a more prestigious position, but none materialized. While in Munich in 1781, he composed the opera, "Idomeneo." He later resigned from his post in Salzburg, taking up permanent residence in Vienna in the hopes of becoming a court composer. There he married Constanze Weber.

Mozart met with moderate success in Vienna. It was there that he composed the singspiel, "Die Entführung aus dem Serail," and the popular "Marriage of Figaro." The success of "Figaro" resulted in a commission for "Don Giovanni," composed in 1787. Also in that year, Mozart received an appointment to the Vienna court. The prestigious appointment did not solve Mozart's chronic financial problems. His prospects did not improve either, when the unsympathetic Leopold II ascended to the throne.

With his health deteriorating, Mozart composed the opera, "La Clemenza di Tito" for the new emperor's coronation.

Mozart died in Vienna in 1791 at the age of 35.

Giacomo Puccini was born on December 22, 1858, to a family of church musicians in Lucca. He first studied with his uncle at the Instituto Pacini in Lucca, but a performance of Verdi's "Aida" brought forth a love for operatic composition. Puccini attended the Milan Conservatory and studied under Bazzini and Ponchielli. His first opera, "Le Villi," was written in 1884, at the age of 26.

The opera "Edgar," written in 1893, was a failure, but "Manon Lescaut" proved to be an international success. More successes followed, including three of the most popular operas in history: "La Bohème" (1896), "Tosca" (1900), and the incomparable "Madama Butterfly," written in 1904. For each opera, Puccini collaborated with the librettists Illica and Giacosa. The successful team broke up with Giacosa's death in 1906.

Domestic tragedies plagued the rest of Puccini's life. His next opera, "The West," did not appear until 1910. Although containing many musical and stylistic innovations, this opera has never received the popular acclaim of his earlier work.

Puccini's final opera, "Turandot," produced in 1926, is a grand and ambitious piece. Sadly, the work was unfinished and the final act had to be written by Franco Alfano. The conductor, Leopold Stokowski, later refused to conduct the final act; instead, he told the audience, "and here the composer laid down his pen." Stokowski then left the stage.

Puccini died on November 29, 1924 in Brussels at the age of 65.

Giuseppe Verdi was born in Roncole on October 10th, 1813, the son of a tavern keeper. Verdi learned music starting at the age of three from a pastor in his village's church using a spinette that Verdi owned. The spinette still survives in a museum in Milan.

Verdi's genius was evident from the beginning. He composed instrumental religious works, sinfonies, and arias for the Filarmonica di Busseto - the philharmonic band located near the village where Verdi grew up.

From very early on, Verdi wanted to be an opera composer. At the beginning it was difficult to find a good libretto, and it was almost impossible to find a stage to perform the completed work. No theater trusted the work of a novice composer. Through hard work and diligence, Verdi eventually experienced modest success with his opera "Oberto" in 1839. A few years later in 1842, he had even greater success with "Nabucco." The opera, interpreted as a political statement on the oppression of the Hebrews, was met with international acclaim.

Even with his first operas, Verdi displayed a captivating new style. His style was bold and subtle in a way that was different from the masters of the period like Rossini, Donizzeti and Bellini. Verdi was a prolific composer. Within a ten-year period he wrote several operas including "Ernani" in 1844 and "MacBeth" in 1847. These operas showcased Verdi's ability to combine character and story alongside his compelling music.

Verdi's success continued into the early 1850's with "Rigoletto" in 1851, "Il Trovatore" in 1853, and, of course, "La Traviata", also in 1853. Verdi had reached the point where he could refuse commissions, instead concentrating only on those tasks that interested him. The operas "Don Carlos" in 1867, and "Aida" in 1871, deftly explored the conflicts between public and private responsibility.

After retiring to become a gentleman farmer in Sant'Agata near his birthplace, Verdi was persuaded to return to composing with the opportunity to create an opera based on Shakespeare's "Othello." The result, "Otello" in 1887, is a masterpiece of dramatic pacing and musical structure. Other operas followed, including the opera "Falstaff," based on Shakespeare's play, "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

Verdi died on January 27, 1901 at the age of 88.

Richard Wagner was born in Venice on May 22, 1813. As a youth, he studied music in Leipzig. His first opera, "Die Feen" was written at the age of 20, in 1833. This was followed in 1836 with the unsuccessful "Das Liebesverbot". That same year, Wagner married the actress Minna Planer. Wagner and his family lived for a few years in Königsberg, and then later, in Riga. While in Paris from 1839 to 1842, he composed the grand opera, "Rienzi," and the tragedy, "Der Fliegende Holländer."

The success of "Rienzi" led to Wagner's appointment as music director in Dresden. More successes followed with "Tannhäuser" in 1845 and "Lohengrin" in 1850. However, at the same time, Wagner became involved with political radicals. He was forced to Switzerland after his participation in the 1849 Dresden uprisings.

In exile, Wagner began work on his four opera cycle, "Der Ring des Nibelungen," which occupied much of his life. Taking time off from his work on the "Ring", Wagner composed the romantic tragedy, "Tristan und Isolde." The opera, "Die Meistersinger" followed a few years later. This opera is notorious for the anti-Semitic expressions of the protagonist.

In 1860, he was allowed to return to Germany. A triumphant performance of "Tannhäuser" in Paris confirmed Wagner's stature as international artist of great renown.

Finally in 1876, the "Ring" premiered in Bayreuth. The strain of raising money and getting the production ready greatly affected Wagner's health. His final opera, "Parsifal," was presented at the second Bayreuth festival in 1882.

Wagner died on February 13th, 1883 at the age of 69.