In September 1860, while visiting Venice with his friend and fellow-laureate Ernest Guiraud, Bizet received news that his mother was gravely ill in Paris, and made his way home.
En setembro de 1860, mentres visitaba Venecia co seu amigo Ernest Guiraud, co que compartía premio, Bizet recibiu a noticia de que a súa nai estaba gravemente enferma en París e regresou a casa.