Who does not know Carnival of the Animals with its music bursting with joy of living, grotesque humour, virtuosity and incomparable charm. Although its composer imposed a performance ban upon his work merely a few years after he had written the piece in February 1886, it is probably one of the best-known compositions within today´s classical concert repertory.

In spring 2004, I decided to venture on the task of arranging this piece – which was originally scored for two pianos, a string quarte...