Carmen - Tragedy and then Triumph
Donald Macleod tells the story of Bizet's final months, during which time he awarded the Legion of Honour.
On the 3rd of March 1875 Bizet was invested with the ribbon of a knight of Legion of Honour, France's highest cultural distinction. The date was not insignificant: that very evening, his new opera Carmen would have its premiere at the Opera-Comique. The Parisian press would go on to savage Carmen, and within weeks the composer was dead. Donald Macleod tells the story of Bizet's final months.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Georges Bizet
Carmen - prelude
Conductor: Claudio ABBADO Performer: LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Main Artist
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 4196362.
-
![]()
Georges Bizet
Carmen - Mon officer../Pres des ramparts.../Voici l'ordre
Conductor: Thomas BEECHAM Performer: Victoria de LOS ANGELES - Soprano Performer: French Radio Orchestra
- EMI.
- CDS556214 2.
-
![]()
Georges Bizet
Carmen - La fleur que tu.../Hola Carmen!
Conductor: Georges PRETRE Performer: French Radio Orchestra Performer: Maria CALLAS - Soprano
- EMI.
- CDM-5 65952-2.
-
![]()
Georges Bizet
Carmen - Melons! Melons...
Conductor: Andre CLUYTENS Performer: Paris Opera Comique Orchestra
- EMI.
- CMS 5-65318 2.
-
![]()
Georges Bizet
Carmen - Si tu m'aimes.../Duo Final
Conductor: Herbert von KARAJAN Performer: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 4196362.
Broadcasts
- Fri 16 Mar 2012 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 16 Mar 2012 18:00大象传媒 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.