Georges Bizet - L' Arlésienne (The Girl from Arles), Suite No. 2

Piano transcription cover of Georges Bizet’s L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2

Front cover of the piano transcription of Bizet’s L’Arlésienne, reflecting the work’s popularity beyond the theatre.

The Second Suite from L’Arlésienne was compiled after Georges Bizet’s death by Ernest Guiraud, a close friend and collaborator of the composer. Drawing material from Bizet’s original incidental music for Alphonse Daudet’s play, Guiraud selected three movements and—somewhat unexpectedly—added a Menuet borrowed from Bizet’s rarely performed opera The Fair Maid of Perth (1866).

Although the suite lacks some of the stark dramatic tension and rural tragedy that permeate the original stage music, it remains a brilliantly crafted orchestral work, immensely popular in the concert repertoire for its color, vitality, and melodic charm.

Movements:

I. Pastorale

The opening Pastorale is orchestral scene-painting at its finest. A firm, almost relentless rhythmic motion evokes villagers returning from the fields under the oppressive midday sun. This earthy momentum is softened by moments of lyricism, most notably a delicate melodic figure reminiscent of birdsong, before the pastoral rhythm resumes.

II. Intermezzo

In the Intermezzo, the main theme is entrusted to the saxophone and horn, gently supported by the strings. The music is simple, tender, and deeply expressive. In the play, this passage precedes the moment when Frédéri resolves to forget the unattainable Arlésienne and accept the love of the woman who has long cared for him.

III. Minuet

The Menuet, borrowed from The Fair Maid of Perth, radiates elegance and grace. Its refined character has made it one of the most frequently performed movements, even though its poised charm feels somewhat detached from the passionate dramatic atmosphere of the surrounding music.

IV. Farandole

The famous Farandole is based on a traditional Provençal dance. Bizet intertwines it with the March of the Kings—a theme already heard in Suite No. 1—creating an exhilarating contrapuntal dialogue. The result is a burst of rhythmic energy and festive brilliance, providing a triumphant conclusion to the suite.

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