On this day in 1875,
our fiery gypsy first appears on stage
in Paris to poor reviews. His heart gives
way too quickly, and Bizet dies at age
36 in June. Sensing failure, how
could he have heard our applause centuries
later, feel us suffering with José
as she hurls his ring in the mud; our wheeze
in low agony as he thrusts his knife
in her gut, weeps to her corpse, ma
Carmen
adorée! that luscious music a
life
in itself. How could he have
envisioned
Tchaikovsky in November writing these
words of praise to von Meck: …a
masterpiece…
Roger Armbrust
March 3, 2013
