Julian Reynolds, Peter Lockwood, Concentus Bestiales

Les Carnaval des Animeaux/Works for two pianos

Format: CD
Label: Globe
UPC: 8711525515208
Catnr: GLO 5152
Release date: 19 August 2002
1 CD
 
Label
Globe
UPC
8711525515208
Catalogue number
GLO 5152
Release date
19 August 2002
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN
NL

About the album

This Saint-Saëns' humourous master piece "The Carnival of the Animals", performed in the composer's original version for chamber orchestra, on two original Erard Grand Pianos by Julian Reynolds & Peter Lockwood with the ensemble Concentus Bestiales, cellist Dmitry Ferschtman as the unsurpassable performer of "The Swan", and an original glass harmonica. Plus five lesser known original master works for two pianos four hands by Saint-Saens, including the composer's own wonderful arrangement of his Danse macabre, also performed on two original Erard Pianos from the period.

Sprankelende originele versie van Le Carnaval des Animeaux
Dit album bevat het humoristische meesterwerk Le Carnaval des Animeaux van Saint-Saëns, in de originele versie voor kamerorkest, uitgevoerd door Julian Reynolds en Peter Lockwood op twee Erard vleugels en het ensemble Concentus Bestiales, met cellist Dmitry Ferschtman als de onovertrefbare uitvoerder van ‘Le Cygne’ (De Zwaan), en een originele glasharmonica. Bovendien bevat het album vijf minder bekende meesterwerken voor twee piano’s a quatre mains van Saint-Saëns, waaronder zijn prachtige bewerking van de Danse Macabre, ook uitgevoerd op de Erard vleugels.

De sprankelende uitvoeringen zijn zeer de moeite waard – veel recensenten beschouwden deze versie van Le Carnaval des Animeaux als de meest overtuigende uitvoering die ooit werd opgenomen, mede dankzij het gebruik van de originele kamermuziekbezetting. De werken voor twee piano’s worden zelden opgenomen, en dit is de enige opname waarin gebruik wordt gemaakt van originele Erard vleugels uit de tijd van de componisten.

Composer(s)

Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, conductor, pianist and organist. He was a musical prodigy, writing his first pieces of music at the age of four and making his concert debut at the age of ten. During this concert he astonished the audience by playing one of the 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven at its request. After his studying at the Conservatory of Paris he followed a career as a church organist at Saint-Merri and later La Madeleine in Paris. He was also a successful freelance composer and pianist in France and abroad. Saint-Saëns initially helped to introduce German composers such as Robert Schumann and Richard Wagner in France. However, from 1870 onwards anti-German sentiments began to arise in France as...
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Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer, conductor, pianist and organist. He was a musical prodigy, writing his first pieces of music at the age of four and making his concert debut at the age of ten. During this concert he astonished the audience by playing one of the 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven at its request. After his studying at the Conservatory of Paris he followed a career as a church organist at Saint-Merri and later La Madeleine in Paris. He was also a successful freelance composer and pianist in France and abroad.
Saint-Saëns initially helped to introduce German composers such as Robert Schumann and Richard Wagner in France. However, from 1870 onwards anti-German sentiments began to arise in France as a result of the Franco-Prussian War, which enhanced support for the idea of a pro-French musical society. In 1871 Saint-Saëns consequently founded the Société Nationale de Musique together with Romain Bussine, that was devoted to the promotion of French music and organised concerts on which young composers could perform their works.
Saint-Saëns was a keen traveler, and made 179 trips to 27 different countries during his life. He favoured Algeria and Egypt, were he gained inspiration for compositions such as the Suite Algérienne and the Fifth Piano Concerto, also known as The Egyptian.
Saint-Saëns' best-known works include the First Cello Concerto, Third Symphony, the opera Samson et Dalila, Danse Macabre and Le carnaval des animaux, a humorous suite in which various animals are musically portrayed. However, he never wanted the last work to be performed, since it was contrary to his image as a serious composer.
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