In his music for Daudet's L'Arlésienne, Bizet demonstrated his dramatic talent, yet the original is almost unknown: the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is set to change that

Alphonse Daudet (1840–1897) and Georges Bizet (1838–1875)

Bizet's L'Arlésienne suites are well-known with some movements representing some of the composer's most played music. Yet the original score for Alphonse Daudet's play, from which the suites are drawn, remains virtually unknown. 

In his biography of the composer Winton Dean argues that the original L'Arlésienne was one of the first examples of Bizet's short creative maturity. Dean has high praise for the dramatic qualities of the score, arguing that it is best appreciated in the theatre rather than the concert hall. Now we are getting a chance to do so as part of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment's 2026/27 season at the Southbank Centre, when Daudet's play will be presented in a new translation by Jeremy Sams.

Alphonse Daudet's L'Arlésienne was based on the author's short story of the same name inspired by a real life event. [The play would also be the source for Francesco Cilea's 1897 opera L'arlesiana, which was performed by Opera Holland Park in 2019, see my review]. Daudet's play was planned for the Théâtre du Vaudeville in 1872 where the director was Léon Carvalho, who was previous at the Théâtre Lyrique where he commissioned The Pearl Fishers (1863) and The Fair Maid of Perth (1867). 

Winton Dean argues that Daudet's play was far better than any libretto that Bizet had set so far and the composer responded. Bizet's original incidental music consists of 27 numbers for chorus and small orchestra, ranging from mélodrames only a few bars long to entr'actes. Restricted to a small orchestra for reasons of economy, Bizet reacted creatively. The resulting integrated drama was perhaps not quite what Carvalho had in mind. When considering the play he said "The piece is a little too sombre for my theatre, but I think the music will be a powerful attraction, and it will soften somewhat the cruelty of the play."

The production was rushed, and the play was not a success. Bizet was persuaded to create a suite for full orchestra and the success of this led to a second suite, four years after Bizet's death. Then in 1885 L'Arlésienne returned to the theatre, this time the Théâtre de l'Odéon where the music mixed the original version with the suite. Though coolly received initially, it eventually ran for over 400 performances. But like Carmen success came too late for Bizet.

Sir Mark Elder conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in Daudet's L'Arlésienne translated by Jeremy Sams with Bizet's original score to open the OAE's 2026/27 Southbank Centre season. Called Music Speaks, the season also features Václav Luks conducting Bach's complete Christmas Oratorio, Vladimir Jurowski conducting Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, John Butt conducting Bach's St John Passion, Handel sung by Mark Padmore and Carolyn Sampson, along with much more. 

Full details from the OAE website.