Description
Pablo de Sarasate (1844 – 1908) was a Spanish virtuoso violinist, composer and conductor. His Carmen Fantasy – a virtuoso extravaganza for violin and orchestra/piano – is one of his best-known works.
He based it on themes from Bizet’s Spain-set opera, Carmen, choosing music with a Spanish character: the Aragonaise, Habanera, an interlude with the lyrics ‘Tra la la … Coupe-moi, brûle-moi’, Seguidilla, and the Chanson de Bohème.
In this version for wind quintet, the flute takes on much of the ‘starring role’ (and is therefore a demanding part), but there are also (easier) melodic passages for the other instruments. This version draws from Sarasate’s versions and Bizet’s original scores for both the full opera and the subsequent suites
