Search - Rodion Shchedrin, Theodore Kuchar, Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra :: Shchedrin: Carmen Suite; Concerto for Orchestra "Naughty Limericks"

Some of you skating enthusiasts may remember the "battle of the Carmens" a few years ago, in which every female skater at the World Championships seemed to be using this music (Katerina Witt won, by the way). It's not really Bizet's Carmen, but rather a ballet based on tunes from the opera and arranged by Shchedrin for lots of strings and percussion. He originally wrote it for his wife, a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi, but the score is so skillfully done and entertaining in its own right that it has become almost as popular as Bizet's original--and it's much better for skating. All of the most famous melodies are here, including several from Bizet's other works. At budget price, this performance offers a good 45 minutes of fun. --David Hurwitz