Georges Bizet, Suites from "Carmen"

Despite entering the Paris Conservatory before the age of ten, winning the first prize in solfège just six months later, being awarded first prize in piano at the age of 14 and, finally, obtaining the coveted Prix de Rome at 19, the French composer Georges Bizet often found it difficult to have his works performed. And on the occasions when he managed to overcome the obstacles during his short life, his works generally received a cold reception.

So it was the case, for example, with the 1862 opera Ivan IV, based on the life of Ivan the Terrible, which was only staged for the first time in 1946! Furthermore, on the occasions the first reception was favorable, as happened with La Jolie Fille de Perth of 1867, some financial difficulties of the organizers forced the performances to be canceled after only 18 stagings.
It seemed to be the fate of Georges Bizet.

Georges Bizet (1838 - 1875)

Carmen
And the case of his masterpiece and final work Carmen was no different, although in this case the difficulties could be anticipated, due to the drama's subject matter, starring a strong-willed gypsy and not a fragile maiden. (The performance of the protagonist was described by one critic as "the very incarnation of vice"). First performed, after the usual delays, on March 3, 1875, it had a hesitant reception, although after a while it began to meet with public approval. But Bizet did not get to know it. He died three months after the premiere, before his 37th birthday, convinced that he had conceived a new failure.

Carmen Suites
Some years after Georges Bizet's death, his close friend and collaborator Ernest Guiraud made two compilations of arias, preludes, and interludes from the opera, making up two orchestral works that he called Suite N°1, published in 1882, and Suite N°2, from 1887. Each of the suites is made up of six pieces. The version presented here is a "mix" of both suites and contains only four pieces, three of them from the first suite, and the famous Habanera, from Suite No. 2.

00      Preludio - In the opera, it came after the overture.

3:52  Aragonesa - Introduction to Act IV. This piece and the previous one make up the first "piece" of Suite No. 1.

6:58  Habanera  - Carmen's aria from Act I; included in Suite No. 2.

9:28  Los toreadores  - taken from the Prelude to Act I and the March of the Toreadors from Act IV.

The performance is by the youth ensemble Symphony Orchestra and Mixed Choir of the Kranj High School, Slovenia, conducted by its director, also Slovenian, Nejc Bečan.