Carmen Fantasy, arr V. Mendelssohn

The opera Carmen by Georges Bizet (1838-1875) still enjoys one of the strongest reputations in the history of stage music. With its combination of incredibly tense drama, centering on the scandalous seductions of its title heroine, as well as its infectious melodies, the piece has been ripe for adaptation into all manner of spin-offs. Composers and performers have created numerous paraphrases and fantasies on its themes. And had Bizet lived longer—he died exactly three months after the premiere—he himself would likely have made arrangements and concert suites, for within a decade the opera had become one of the most commercially successful musical works across Europe. The most recognizable melodies—the Habañera, the Toreador’s Song—have become globally iconic and form the backbone of most concert suites.

(c) Jason Stell