Habanera For Two (after G. Bizet)

I had quite an non easy task while I was working on the arrangement of «Habanera» from the opera «Karmen» by G. Bizet. I did it on the request from my first teacher M. Kandelaki for her pupils — Lisa (she was 8 years old, and played the first part), and Nikita (he was 9, the second part). They studied at the Central Music School in Moscow and they already were laureates of international competitions. Still, they remained children — and the arrangement technically was aimed at children’s abilities. But a fantasy of a teacher and players themselves can be broadly expressed in this small piece. This piece can suggest some story and even gives an opportunity to make a small performance — from this point of view it is nice that the boy plays the second part, and the girl plays the first one.

I hope that young artists will like «Habanera For Two». I have to note, however, that this piece turned out to be not just «for children only». Regarded as a jocose «light dessert» it can awake the interest of professional pianists. The fact is that piano duets have a modest choice of small encore numbers comparing to solo pianists. I will be glad if «Habanera For Two» helps to improve this situation a bit.