Carmen' is one of the most popular and most frequently performed operas across the globe. Its world premiere was a flop which the composer Bizet did not live to see. Nevertheless, the opera very quickly gained acceptance at all major theatres, bringing in its wake countless arrangements of some particularly beautiful music numbers.It was, in all probability, Bizet's close friend and fellow student Ernest Guiraud who brought 12 numbers of the opera together to form two orchestral suites. After the first Carmen Suite which unites the most beautiful instrumental settings, the second suite with arrangements of the best-known vocal pieces is now available as well. The musical text is based on our new scientific edition of the opera edited by Robert Didion. / Orchestre

Cette sélection douce et mélodique béatement est le moyen idéal pour vos élèves à développer un style de jeu legato sensible. Suggérant l'air frais des montagnes d'une soirée en Espagne, cet intermezzo ouvre l'acte II de chef d'opéra de Bizet avec un solo de flûte lyrique qui est finalement repris par tout l'orchestre. Mature à consonance et fidèle à l'originale du compositeur, l'orchestration colorée est sûre de garder toutes les sections intéressées. La partie accompagnement de piano peut être joué par la harpe (comme dans la version originale) ou un clavier avec réglage de la harpe. / Orchestre

The première of Daudet's play L'Arlésienne with incidental music by Bizet given at the Théâtre du Vaudeville on 30 September 1872 was a devastating event for both playwright and composer and the production was removed from the repertory after 19 performances. The critic Johannès Weber however was alert to the quality of Bizet's score and suggested that the composer should excerpt and rescore several pieces for the Concerts populaires where 'the lovely music would be better appreciated than at the Vaudeville'. Bizet must have moved rather quickly to follow Weber's suggestion for the première of the first Arlésienne suitetook place only six weeks later at the Concerts populaires on 10 November 1872 and the work in its new abridged form was soon taken up by many other orchestras. Bizet however did not turn to preparing a second suite from L'Arlésienne. Some four years after Bizet's death the success of the first suite may have prompted his original publisher to commission the arrangement of more excerpts from the Arlésienne MS from Bizet's good friend Ernest Guiraud who had earlier written recitatives and put together a ballet for Carmen.

L'Arlésienne Suites Nos. 1 and 2 consist of selections from Bizet's incidental music. For Suite No. 1 Bizet chose four sections from the original score of 27 episodes extensively modifying and rescoring the music in the process. The pieces for Suite No. 2 were selected and reorchestrated by Bizet's close friend Ernest Guiraud following the composer's death in 1875. Reproduced here from the authoritative Breitkopf & Härtel editions they will delight musicians and music lovers. Reprinted from the Breitkopf & Härtel Wiesbaden Germany n.d. editions.

This familiar theme from Bizet is adapted for band in this sparkling and authentic setting by Jay Bocook. Featuring bold tutti statements, delicate woodwind lines and a piu mosso to provide a rousing finish, this arrangement has everything you need for an impressive performance.