Today marks a a tale of two composers: the dramatic Georges Bizet (1838-1875) and the exuberant Johann Strauss, Jr., (1825-1899) both born on October 25 and not only shared a birthdate in common but also were colorful orchestrators and gifted melodists of the highest order. Yet, outside of these two similarities, their livelihood as composers were stratified at opposing ends of the spectrum.
Despite fervent opposition from his father to walk in his footsteps, the younger Strauss became widely hailed by audiences and critics alike. The Waltz King's popularity exceeded that of his father and was even admired by the likes of Brahms and Richard Strauss; the latter referring to him as the laughing genius of Vienna.
On the other hand, Bizet, a precocious genius nurtured by his parents to gain admittance to the Conservatoire de Paris before the age of ten, received hardly any recognition beyond his student days when he won the coveted Prix de Rome. The despondency, frustration and pain endured by Bizet -- even for masterworks such as Carmen -- hastened his untimely demise at the age of 36. Bizet's Symphony in C, an effervescent work composed at the tender age of 17, that presages the music from Carmen was not resurrected until 1935 -- eighty years after it was composed.
"When a supposedly civilised society tolerates,
even encourages, stupid and useless monstrosities... honest and intelligent men must come together, agree, love one another, enlighten one another, and pity the idiots..."
