My orchestrations of these three pieces by Oscar Fetras based on themes from Bizet’s Carmen. I recently had my attention drawn to the orchestration of the waltz that I did a number of years ago. I revised it to take some of my infelicities out and thought I might as well complete the set.

As usual, the quadrille caused a dilemma. Do you play the tunes at the speeds they were in the opera (cf Mariss Jansons’ recording of the Eduard Strauss Carmen Quadrille) or at dancing speed? I have opted to retain the dance’s character.

I’m all Carmenned out now.