Jenö Hubay - Carmen Fantasie Brillante for Violin and Piano

One cannot help but be entranced by the sultry themes of Bizet’s “Carmen” – the ubiquitous Habanera is utilized in soundtracks, commercials, and is transcribed for nearly every orchestral instrument. The eminent Hungarian pedagogue Jenö Hubay composed the first arrangement for violin (1876), followed by Pablo de Sarasate (1882) and Franz Waxman (1946). Hubay dedicated his “Carmen Fantasie Brilliante” to the Belgian virtuoso Henri Vieuxtemps (with overt references to some of Vieuxtemps’ own compositions included) …and of the Carmen versions available for violin, this is the only one to include the Toreador theme (and Escamillio’s proud anthem).