Four days after turning 17, Georges Bizet began writing a symphony as a student assignment at the Paris Conservatoire. He finished it in a month's time and then set it aside. There's no evidence that he showed any interest in getting the work performed in his lifetime. After he died, Bizet's widow gave the symphony to scholars and it eventually found its way to the conservatoire archives. It was rediscovered in 1933 and had its world premiere 80 years after its inception. It has been in the concert repertoire ever since, hailed for its melodic invention and facile structure. Bill McGlaughlin will discuss this amazing work on tonight's Exploring Music at 7 pm.
The Amazing Story of Bizet's Symphony
