The opera is loosly based on the Prosper Merimee novel about the
tempestuous gypsy girl, Carmen, and her tragic romance with a young
spanish corporal.
A suite was arranged for orchestra by Borne. Bizet was one
of the most popular French composers of the 19th century. He had a feeling
for the vitality of folk music...and had a genius for the stage.
Carmen is a French opéra comique composed by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies (1824) by Alexander Pushkin. Mérimée had read the poem in Russian by 1840 and translated it into French in 1852.
The opera premiered at the Opéra-Comique of Paris on 3 March 1875, but its opening run was denounced by the majority of critics.
![Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera [VHS]](http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=6301821122&tag=ncdn)
Georges Bizet (25 October 1838 – 3 June 1875) was a French composer and pianist of the Romantic era. He is best known for the opera Carmen. His farandole from L'Arlésienne is a pops concert staple.
Wikipedia Bio | Search Amazon.com for Georges_Bizet
