Proto: A Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Piano

The Carmen Fantasy for Double Bass and Piano was written in 1991 for Francois Rabbath.

On July 5th, 1991, the first performance was given by Rabbath on bass and Frank Proto at the piano at the University of Cincinnati's College - Conservatory of Music. The piece was well receieved prompting Rabbath to ask for the work to be orchestrated.

Proto finished the orchestral version in 1992 and was first performed on November 3, 1992 by Rabbath and the Toulous Orchestra.

The material that Proto drew from the well-known opera include: The Aragonaise, Toreador Song, Bohemian Dance, Michaela's Aria, and the Prelude.