After studying in his native Canada, Quebec-born tenor Raoul Jobin (1906–1974) began singing there in concert in 1929 before embarking on further study at the Paris Conservatory. After his operatic début at the Paris Opéra (1930), he returned in 1931 to his homeland for concert tours and subsequently appeared in operas in the United States with the San Carlo Opera. His Paris Opéra career took off in 1934, and in 1937 he made both his Opéra-Comique and Covent Garden débuts. He made his New York Metropolitan Opera début in 1940 as Des Grieux to Grace Moore's Manon, and was frequently heard there in a variety of lyric roles until 1950.

Solange Michel was born Solange Boulesteix in Paris in 1912 and after studies at the Paris Conservatoire began her career as a concert and radio soloist. Only in 1942 did she make her stage début, in Werther at Dijon. In 1945 she became a member of the Opéra-Comique company and soon was also taking major rôles at the Opéra, where she had earlier sung small parts. Her career lasted until the late 1970s. She was regarded as the finest contralto of her era in France and sang the rôle of Carmen more than seven hundred times, being acclaimed for her acting as well as her singing. She also appeared at Covent Garden, La Scala and various other European houses and took part in several complete opera recordings, as well as making a recital disc.

Georges Bizet won early success as a composer and initially as a pianist. His later career in Paris was more variable, and a number of stage works remained unfinished at the time of his early death, which took place as his most famous opera, Carmen, was enjoying increasing favour.

Stage Works

Bizet’s last opera, Carmen, is among the most famous of all operas, with its realistic Spanish setting and strongly dramatic story. Concert audiences are familiar with two concert suites drawn from the opera. His melodrama L’Arlésienne, a collaboration with the writer Alphonse Daudet, was coolly received in the theatre. The two suites from the work are well known, the second arranged by Bizet’s friend Ernest Guiraud. His first important opera, the exotic Les pêcheurs de perles (‘The Pearl Fishers’), set in Ceylon, includes the well-known duet for the two rival fishermen ‘Au fond du temple saint’ (‘Within the sacred temple’).

Orchestral Music

Bizet’s only surviving symphony, written in 1855, was rediscovered and first performed in 1935.

Piano Music

Popular piano works include the duet Jeux d’enfants (‘Children’s Games’), part of which is sometimes heard in Bizet’s own orchestral arrangement.