No Description Available No Track Information Available Media Type: CD Artist: SAINT-SAENS,C. Title: DANCE MACABRE/PHAETON/ETC Street Release Date: 05/12/1992 Domestic Genre: CLASSICAL COMPOSERS
MUSIC: (Camille Saint-Saens) Symphonie No. 3 in C minor, op. 78 "Organ", 1. adagio-allegro moderato, 2 Poco adagio, 3 Allegro moderato - presto - allegro moderato, 4. Maestoso - allegro - molto allegro - pesante; and, (Paul Dukas) The Sorcerer's Apprentice - Scherzo after a ballade by Goethe. (c) 1987 by Polydor International GmbH (Hamburg), catalogue number D 125505. Stereo.
This disc is drawn from the concerts inaugurating the new organ in Philadelphia's concert hall, a fine instrument well-captured by the engineers. But along with the sense of occasion, organist Olivier Latry and the orchestra deliver stunning playing of a stimulating program. Barber's celebratory overture is an apt opener, full of color and sparkle. The Poulenc is especially notable for the intensity soloist and the orchestra bring to one of the finest modern concertos in the repertory. Saint-Saëns' Symphony is almost on the same level, slightly marred by a sluggish slow movement but with plenty of excitement elsewhere. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this disc is the playing of the orchestra, full of life and vitality. The sheer sound of the Philadelphia strings is captivating enough, but the fetching wind solo turns and section work remind us of the continuing greatness of this ensemble. Latry too, is outstanding in the Barber and Poulenc works and an incisive presence in the Saint-Saëns. -- Dan Davis
The remarkable organ works of Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) were long neglected as being rather too classical compared to the prevailing taste for French organ romanticism. The utmost clarity of the voices, the elegance and natural melody – as well as the research of form perfection – are characteristic of his work and confer to his compositions for organ a refinement of great subtlety. As a result of his successful concert performances, radio & television productions and more than 30 CD recordings (all of which have been well received), Stefan Johannes Bleicher (b. 1962) is considered one of the leading organ soloists of his generation. Bleicher studied concert organ with Lionel Rogg in Geneva and Ewald Kooiman in Amsterdam. He also studied historical performance practice with Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
