Travel tips for opera lovers – Paris and Bizet

Bizet in Paris

The series about historical places of opera art. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Bizet in Paris

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Bizet in Paris

Bizet rented a house in Bougival to compose his “Carmen” in peace. However, the composition history of Carmen was anything but quiet, the house even became his death house. He died three months after the premiere, already at the age of 36, of his longstanding angina, embittered by the ungracious reception of his “Carmen.

TO THE OVERVIEW OF ALL DESTINATIONS “OPERA & CLASSIC OF PARIS”.

Destination birthplace in the Rue de la Tour d’Auvergne

Bizet’s birthplace still stands, it is located at number 26, a plaque commemorates the famous resident. This street in the Montmartre quarter became famous for Murger’s and Puccini’s “La vie de Bohème” and was still an artists’ quarter in Bizet’s time. Bizet’s father was a hairdresser and artist. A plaque commemorates Bizet.

Rue de la Tour d’Auvergne (historic picture):

Destination Rue de Douhai

Bizet’s wife Geneviève was a native of Halévy. Her father was Bizet’s piano professor at the Conservatory and her cousin Ludovic was co-librettist of “Carmen” and also of many of Offenbach’s successful operas. His wife’s family was wealthy and Bizet moved to the posh 22 Rue de Douhai in 1869, where he lived for almost 6 years. The house remained in the family for a few more years, Geneviève became a famous salon lioness and was immortalized by Proust in his epic poem “In Search of Lost Time”. The house later became a simple restaurant, then a brothel. Today’s use is a discreet nightclub, if you want you can visit the house from 18 o’clock…

House Halévy, Rue de Douhai:

Destination Père Lachaise

Bizets was buried in this famous cemetery at Division 68, No. 101. The tomb was designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Garnier Opera House in Paris. In 2006 the beautiful bust was stolen. It has since been recovered and is in the possession of the cemetery.

Georges Bizet’s tomb (historic Picture):

https://www.paris.fr/equipements/cimetiere-du-pere-lachaise-4080

Destination Opéra comique

The Opéra comique (also known as Salle Favart) is a beautiful historic theater, but dates only from 1898. Both of its predecessors burned down, including the premiere theater of “Carmen”. The premiere of Carmen took place in 1875 and became a scandal (see the digression below), the fire occurred in 1887, killing about 100 people.
The visit of the opera is highly recommended, it offers a high quality program.

Der Besuch der Oper ist sehr empfehlenswert, sie bietet ein hochstehendes Programm.

https://www.opera-comique.com/

Musical background: the Scandal of«Carmen»

The role of Carmen became decisive for the story of its creation. The personality of this figure was unique at that time: an indomitable woman, erotic, temperamental, and a factory worker to boot. Moreover, vulgar and rebellious instead of romantic and patient. In short: the exact opposite of what was expected of a woman in the late 19th century. It sparked a heated debate in the run-up to the premiere. When the theater directors realized what a “monster” was approaching them, they tried to change the course of events. But it was too late. Even the planned leading actress refused to sing the role. In the person of Célestine Galli-Marié a suitable replacement could be found at short notice. The choice of the singer was and is crucial for success. The role is very demanding, it requires an erotic charisma, great singing skills, seductive dancing and acting abilities.

The first performance took place in March 1875, and the first act was warmly received. But the longer the work lasted, the frostier the atmosphere in the great hall of the Opéra Comique became. It was too much for the conservative audience. One critic wrote about the leading actress: “To see her swinging with her hips like a filly at a stud farm in Cordoba – quelle vérité, mais quel scandale” (Abbate/Parker, “a story of the opera”).

Listen to famous Habanera from “Carmen”:

https://opera-inside.com/carmen-by-georges-bizet/#L‘