Do you know the story of the boy who was great at seventeen but whose star then faded? I bet you think I’m talking about Arthur Rimbaud? No, indeed: I’m going to tell you about a far stranger case, of an adolescent genius who was stifled throughout his adult life then got his second wind at 36 just before he died. I’m talking about Georges Bizet, the composer of Carmen, probably one of the most enigmatic figures in the whole history of music.

Written and performed by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt

With:

Karine Deshayes?mezzo-soprano, Philippe Do?tenor, and Nicolas Stavy?pianist,

in a dozen rare or famous works by Bizet, from Docteur Miracle to Carmen.

Directed by Steve Suissa

One showing only: Salle Gaveau 14 February 2014 at 20h30.

On 3 March 1875 Carmen had its first performance at the Opéra-Comique. Three months later, Bizet was dead of a heart attack and his life remained unfinished. A passionate writer, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt has continued that life in writing to draft what could have been the work of someone whose death Schmitt believes to be one of the major catastrophes of western musicology. He will be accompanied by the mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes (who will appear as Carmen a few weeks later in the grand auditorium of the Bastille Opera House) and tenors Atilla Kiss-B and Cyrille Dubois together with the pianist Nicolas Stavy.

Chants du Rhin (Songs of the Rhine) for piano
Chromatic Variations for piano
First Nocturne for piano

Adieux de l'hôtesse arabe (Farewell of the Arab Hostess)

Docteur Miracle
Pasquin’s aria "J’suis plus honnête que j’n’suis bête" (I’m more innocent than stupid)

The Fair Maid of Perth
Smith’s serenade "A la voix d’un amant" (At the voice of a lover)

Djamileh
Djamileh and Haro’s duet "Quelle pâleur est sur ta joue ?" (Why is your cheek so pale?)

Carmen
Carmen’s aria "L’amour est enfant de Bohème" first and second versions
Don José’s aria "La fleur que tu m’avais jetée"
the cards’ aria "En vain pour éviter"
Carmen and Don José’s aria "Non, tu m’aimes pas!"
Carmen and Don José’s final duet "C’est toi, c’est moi"

Pasquin’s aria "J’suis plus honnête que j’n’suis bête" (I’m more innocent than stupid)

The Fair Maid of Perth
Smith’s serenade "A la voix d’un amant" (At the voice of a lover)

Djamileh
Djamileh and Haro’s duet "Quelle pâleur est sur ta joue ?" (Why is your cheek so pale?)

Carmen
Carmen’s aria "L’amour est enfant de Bohème" first and second versions
Don José’s aria "La fleur que tu m’avais jetée"
the cards’ aria "En vain pour éviter"
Carmen and Don José’s aria "Non, tu m’aimes pas!"
Carmen and Don José’s final duet "C’est toi, c’est moi"