Bizet died on 3rd June 1875, exactly three months after the first performance of his Carmen, which had met with a cool reception. This caused the already undermined composer to fall into a depression which, most probably, led him to take his own life. The following October, Carmen was a triumph in Vienna and ever since this opera has been considered an all-time classic. Inspired by the tale of the same name by Prosper Mérimée (1845), the opera tells the story of the gypsy girl Carmen: a free passionate spirit, she generously gives herself in love, yet fights off all attempts to tie her down. Bizet invented music to suit her character: impetuous and passionate. And he turns Spain (a country he never actually visited) into a land of violent passion. Speaking of this opera, the philosopher Nietzsche said "When we listen to Carmen, we too become a masterpiece".
| Arrangement | Piano Accompaniment, Voice |
| Genres | Opera |
| Format | Vocal Score |
| Media | Sheet Music |
| Series | Ricordi Opera Vocal Scores |
| Publisher | Ricordi |
| Contributors | Bizet, Georges (Composer) |
| ISBN | 9781423432760 |
| ISMN | 9790041394794 |