The 19th century was a heyday for arrangements of all kinds. So it was natural that the composer and violin virtuoso Sarasate should turn to this genre to expand his repertoire. He composed numerous fantasies on successful operasof the time, but pride of place undoubtedly belongs to his Carmen Fantasy. For this arrangement, composed in 1881, Sarasate deliberately chose those numbers that most clearly convey the Spanish atmosphere of the opera. Besides aversion for violin and piano, Sarasate also