Blog Post Nine

Bizet, trivia, and Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Heri za Kwanzaa! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Heri za Kwanzaa! Happy New Year! from Craig Music Publishers

Thanks for stopping by, and welcome to my blog! This week, I finished my final of five arrangements for clarinet choir from Georges Bizet’s dynamic and fiery opera Carmen. Check out my newly published “March of the Toreadors” in our CMP Shop. This completes my five-movement suite, Selections from the opera Carmen. Look for the entire suite on 1 January, 2026, here in our Shop.

Let’s start this week’s blog post with some questions about this week’s featured piece. I will post the answers towards the end of this blog post. First, what is the name of the classic cartoon that features several famous operatic hits, including Bizet's "March of the Toreadors" from Carmen? Next, Bizet's "March of the Toreadors" appears in which popular video game? Finally, which popular children's TV show features  Bizet's "March of the Toreadors" with new lyrics? Tell me your answers in the comments below, or feel free to share any other interesting facts you might know about this iconic movement from Bizet’s opera.

This clarinet choir arrangement of Georges Bizet's iconic "March of the Toreadors," from Act I of his opera Carmen, is a classic. This popular tune is perfect for recitals, music conferences, graduations, special events, children's concerts, and educational outreach performances. The arrangement was written for advanced high school, college, and professional ensembles and offers alternate parts for Alto Clarinet and Contra Alto Clarinet. This lively orchestral masterpiece from France, transcribed here for clarinets, will bring a taste of Europe and a Latin flair to your special musical events.

I will be taking a break for the Christmas holidays to spend time with my family. But I will be back on 2 January with more anecdotes, memories, and passions for music. In the meantime, you can listen to my latest arrangement, Georges Bizet’s “March of the Toreadors” from Carmen, by clicking the MP3 player below, and stop by my store to purchase this digital download PDF arrangement for clarinet choir. What did you like most about this setting for clarinet choir? What’s your favorite movement from Bizet’s Orchestral Suites from Carmen? Tell me your thoughts about it in the comments below.

OK. Here are the answers to the Bizet questions I posted at the beginning of the blog.

What is the name of the cartoon based on Bizet's "March of the Toreadors" from Carmen?

What's Opera, Doc?

Bizet's "March of the Toreadors" from Carmen appears in which popular video game?

Five Nights at Freddy's

Which popular children's TV show features  Bizet's "March of the Toreadors" from Carmen with new lyrics?
Sesame Street

How did you do on these questions? Does anyone else remember watching “What’s Opera, Doc?” when they were a kid? I do! It was great. Hope you enjoy these trivia questions. Do you know any fun facts about Bizet’s “March of the Toreadors?” If so, tell me about it in the comments below. If you would like to read more about my inspiration for writing this suite based on Carmen, click here to read Blog Post Three. Thanks for taking the time to stop by. See you in the next blog. Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a safe, healthy, and happy New Year!

19 December 2025

Bizet: March of the Toreadors, from the opera Carmen - Arranged for Clarinet Choir - cover art