Bizet - L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1

George Bizet's “ L'Arlésienne ” Suite No. 1, which goes back to his incidental music to a stage work by Alphonse Daudet, was arranged for large orchestra by the composer just a few weeks after its premiere in autumn 1872. The suite was a success from the first performance. Hints of folksy melodies from southern France, together with the masterful orchestration of the four movements, create a typically French atmosphere.

Joachim Linckelmann's arrangement for wind quintet is so close to the musical tone of the original that the listener is left in doubt as to whether it was written by Bizet himself.