 After the Franco @-@ Prussian War of 1870 – 71 , during which Bizet served in the National Guard , he had little success with his one @-@ act opera Djamileh , though an orchestral suite derived from his incidental music to Alphonse Daudet 's play L 'Arlésienne was instantly popular . The production of Bizet 's final opera , Carmen , was delayed because of fears that its themes of betrayal and murder would offend audiences . After its premiere on 3 March 1875 , Bizet was convinced that the work was a failure ; he died of a heart attack three months later , unaware that it would prove a spectacular and enduring success . 
