On Air Now
Calm Classics with Ritula Shah 10pm - 1am
This image appears in the gallery:
Bizet: 10 facts about the great composer
The production of Bizet's final opera, 'Carmen', was delayed because of fears that its themes of betrayal and murder would offend. In the audience at the opera's premiere were Massenet and Saint-Saëns who loved it. Gounod accused Bizet of plagiarism and much of the press comment was negative. Bizet was convinced that the opera was a failure. Pictured is the 1947 Covent Garden production of 'Carmen'.