George Bizet (1838-1875) was greatly optimistic about the premiere performance of his opera Carmen on 3 March 1875 at the “Opéra Comique” in Paris. Final rehearsals had gone very well, and on the very same day Bizet was appointed as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. A great many leading musical figures of Paris attended the premiere, among them Massenet, Offenbach, Delibes and Gounod. Things got a bit complicated, however, with Gounod bitterly complaining that Bizet had stolen one of his melodies for Micaëla’s aria in the 3rd act. Halévy wrote to a friend the next day “the first act was well received, with applause for the main numbers and numerous curtain calls. The first part of act 2 also went well, but after the toreador song there was nothing but coldness… In the final act, Bizet was left only the consolations of a few friends.” Things only got worse, as press reviews ranged from disappointment to outrage the next day.
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