Bizet: L'Arlésienne - Incidental Music, Op. 23

This page lists all recordings of L'Arlésienne - Incidental Music, Op. 23, by Georges Bizet (1838-75) on CD. Generally, more recent CDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock.

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June 2008

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Bizet - L' Arlésienne Orchestral Suites

(CD/Book)

Bizet:

Carmen - Entr'actes

Carmen - Prelude to Act 1

L'Arlesienne Suites 1 & 2

L'Arlésienne - Incidental Music, Op. 23

(version by Marc Minkowski)

Les Musiciens du Louvre & Chśur de l’opéra de Lyon, Marc Minkowski

Marc Minkowski, one of the most outstanding conductors of our time, has joined naďve for a long-term collaboration during which he will be surveying the music of Bach, Handel, Haydn and Mozart, among others. The first in this series of recordings features the works of Georges Bizet performed on instruments of the period. It brings an original approach to the music from two of his masterpieces, L’Arlésienne and Carmen. In 1872, Bizet composed the incidental music for Daudet’s theatre play L’Arlésienne. Following the huge success of this music, he composed a suite for orchestra based on the best pieces included in the original incidental music. In 1879, four years after Bizet’s death, his friend Guiraud arranged a new orchestral suite, mainly based on Bizet’s music, but also adding new quotes from the incidental music. In 2007 Marc Minkowski selected the best pieces from the original incidental music and conceived his own fascinating suite. The program is completed with the Prelude” and three “Entr’actes” form Carmen.

"Marc Minkowski’s partnership with the Naďve label has got off to a rousing start with this magnificent Bizet album. When faced with performances as utterly persuasive as this, it does get one hankering yet again for more first-class Bizet works than we actually have, but grateful that we do at least have these and the few others. The conductor is a great admirer of Sir Thomas Beecham in this repertoire and, separated as they are by era and nationality, the Englishman’s spirit is alive and well here. Minkowski has a ball with these suites, relishing their rich sonorities and glorious melodies, while at the same time investing them with a serious-minded sensitivity. The L’Arlésienne suites have rarely sounded so genuinely moving." - Gramophone Magazine

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