Bizet: L'Arlésienne Suite, 1. Prelude - Stokowski/Philadelphia

The incidental music to Alphonse Daudet's play L'Arlésienne (usually translated as 'The Girl from Arles') was composed by Georges Bizet for the first performance of the play in 1872.

The music consisted of 27 numbers (some only a few bars) for voice, chorus and small orchestra. The numbers ranged from short solos to longer entr'actes. The music received poor reviews, and is not much performed nowadays in its original form. It has survived and flourished, however, in the form of two separate suites for orchestra.

Despite the poor reviews of the incidental music, Bizet arranged his work into a suite of four movements. Now known as L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1, the suite used a full symphony orchestra but without the chorus. The first performance was at a Pasdeloup concert on 10 November 1872.

The four movements of the first suite were:
I. Prélude, Allegro deciso (the March of the Kings)
II. Minuet, Allegro giocoso
III. Adagietto
IV. Carillon, Allegro moderato

The suite opens with a strong, energetic theme, which is based on the Christmas carol "March of the Kings", played by the violins. Afterwards, the theme is repeated by various sections. After reaching a climax, the theme fades away. It is followed by the theme associated with L'Innocent (the brother of Frédéri, the hero). The Prélude concludes with the theme associated with Frédéri himself. The second movement, resembles a minuet, while the third is more emotional and muted. The last movement, Carillon, features a repeating Bell-tone pattern on the Horns, mimicking a peal of church bells.

Leopold Stokowski (April 18, 1882 -- September 13, 1977) was a British-born American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bizet
• L'Arlésienne
• Suite
• 1.
• Prelude
• Stokowski
• Philadelphia
• Orchestra

[jglsd1]

I think it's a shame that the saxophone solo that Bizet wrote at 3:35 was performed on a clarinet instead. Just not the same...

[2ndviolinist]

@jglsd1 We're lucky to have it in any form, though I agree.

[paulostroff99]

Lovely music. TY

[2ndviolinist]

@paulostroff99 You are welcome.

[a13xR75]

But I love the clarinet part.. I love playing it on mine. (:

[fluffy8me1]

YOUR VIDEO'S VITAL REGIONS HAVE JUST GOT INVADED BY A HETALIA FAN!!!!

[GaaraXchik]

Mera mera to, yaki tsukuse. Sumi kara sumi made sono gouka de. Atokata mo, nokoranu you ni, tamashii made mo yaki tsukuse...

watch?v=e2rte3QoSNM

[AngelNegroMetal]

Esta rola me recuerda mis clases de apreciación musical xD