Bizet's Symphony in C was composed in 1855 but was not performed until 1935. The symphony has often been cited as being reminiscent of earlier composers' music. Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Rossini, Schubert, Mozart, and even Brahms (!) have been mentioned. Bizet in fact wrote his symphony with a specific model in mind, the Symphony in D by his teacher and friend Gounod. Almost all of the conspicuous features of the Bizet can be traced back to Gounod. Gounod's symphony had been a great hit in Paris, and this may indicate that Bizet chose not to have his symphony performed upon completing it for fear of being charged with imitation. Bizet did quote a fragment of his symphony in his opera Don Procopio. (He also quoted this opera in two later operas, Les Pêcheurs de perles and La jolie fille de Perth.)

Works: Bizet: Symphony in C Major (462), Don Procopio (474), Les Pêcheurs de perles (474), La jolie fille de Perth (474).

Index Classifications: 1800s

Contributed by: David C. Birchler