French composer who studied at the Paris conservatoire where he won the coveted Prix de Rome. He also won the hand of his teacher's daughter. His success lay in operas and writing for the stage, though his opera The Pearl Fishers was sharply criticised when it first appeared. The play L'Arlésienne by Daudet was also a flop but the music achieved great success when it was collected into two suites which reveal Bizet's colourful use of the orchestra. The opera Carmen was his last and soon became the most successful work. He died of a heart attack at the early age of 36. Whether his fondness for chocolate and cakes contributed to this is not recorded.
