Georges Bizet (1838 — 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic era. Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, Carmen, which has become one of the most popular and frequently performed works in the entire opera repertoire. During his brief career, Bizet composed in several musical genres, including two symphonies, two overtures and thirty operas, many of which remained unfinished.

His indisputable masterpiece, Carmen, also failed to enjoy immediate acclaim, though it was later to become one of the most famous operas ever composed and continues to enthral audiences. Bizet, unfortunately, died three months after Carmen’s premiere, unaware of his achievement.