Carmen-Suite = Кармен-Сюита

Commissioned by Maya Plisetskaya and composed by Rodion Shchedrin in 1967, this work serves as a creative reimagining of Georges Bizet's opera Carmen. Shchedrin rearranged the familiar melodies specifically for a string orchestra and a large percussion section, intending to strip away the operatic vocal weight to highlight the rhythmic and percussive intensity of the narrative. The composition was born out of the Bolshoi Theatre’s need for a modern ballet score that captured the essence of the original music while providing a fresh, kinetic experience for dancers.

This specific 1985 recording features the Moscow Virtuosi under the direction of Vladimir Spivakov. By the mid-1980s, the piece had become a staple of the Soviet classical repertoire, celebrated for its bold instrumentation and technical demands. Released on the Melodiya label, the recording reflects a period when Spivakov’s chamber ensemble gained international recognition for their precise, spirited interpretations of both standard works and contemporary arrangements. It remains a hallmark of the collaborative spirit between Shchedrin and the elite musicians of the Moscow conservatory tradition.