Georges Bizet

Abstract Owing to the difficulties of the times, composers have become peculiarly complicated creatures, as if they were small-scale diplomats: they pretend endlessly. This chapter holds, however, that Georges Bizet was not like that at all. His life of frankness, even if it was brutal, was plain to see; he was loyal and sincere, and honest about his likes and dislikes. There was a similarity of character between him and Camille Saint–Saëns, the author, that brought them together. In all other respects, they were utterly different and pursued different ideals: Bizet was in search, above all, of passion and life; Saint–Saëns was chasing the chimaera of stylistic purity and formal perfection. For Saint–Saëns, Bizet was not a rival; he was a brother in arms.