Carmen-Suite = Кармен-Сюита

The Carmen Suite was originally conceived in 1967 as a ballet adaptation of Georges Bizet’s famous opera, commissioned by the ballerina Maya Plisetskaya and arranged by her husband, the composer Rodion Shchedrin. Shchedrin reimagined Bizet’s melodies for a string orchestra and a vast array of percussion, stripping away the vocal lines to focus on the rhythmic and emotional intensity of the narrative. This specific 1989 pressing features the Moscow Virtuosi conducted by Vladimir Spivakov, a prominent ensemble known for their technical precision during the twilight years of the Soviet era.

The recording was produced under the Melodiya label, the state-owned record company of the Soviet Union. By the late 1980s, these pressings often benefited from improved engineering standards compared to earlier Soviet releases, as the label sought to compete with Western imports. Vladimir Spivakov’s interpretation is noted for its sharp, energetic delivery of Shchedrin’s unconventional arrangements, which had by 1989 moved from a controversial modern adaptation to a staple of the international repertoire.