Saint-Saëns: Les 5 Symphonies

Saint-Saëns: Les 5 Symphonies

Saint-Saëns: Les 5 Symphonies
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CD Details

Composer: Camille Saint-Saens
Conductor: Jean Martinon
Orchestra: ORTF National Orchestra
Performer: Bernard Gavoty
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 2005-07-13
Music Label: EMI Classics France
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. I. Poco Adagio - Allegro Vivace
  2. II. Andantino
  3. III. Scherzo Vivace
  4. IV. Finale: Allegro Molto - Presto
  5. I. Adagio - Allegro
  6. II. Marche - Scherzo: Allegro Scherzando
  7. III. Adagio
  8. IV: Finale: Allegro Maestoso
  9. I. Allegro Marcato - Allegro Appassionato
  10. I. Adagio
  11. III. Scherzo: Presto
  12. IV. Prestissimo
Music CD 2
  1. I. Largo - Allegro
  2. II. Molto Vivace
  3. III. Moderato Assai Serioso
  4. IV. Poco Allegretto - Andante Con Moto
  5. I. Adagio - Allegretto Maestoso - Poco Adagio
  6. II. Allegro Moderato - Presto - Maestoso - Piu Allegro

Music reviews of Saint-Saëns: Les 5 Symphonies

Music Review: Wonderful music, poor sound (3 and a half stars really)
Rating: 3 Stars

EMI (and now Brilliant) should be praised for making these recordings available at such good prices. This fills a significant hole in the repertoire, making available four rarely heard and sadly neglected symphonies from a French composer who deserves to be honoured for a greater legacy than the (musical parody) Carnival of the Animals. Thankfully, Symphony No.3 is now core repertoire giving plenty of competitive quality. This is not true of the first four symphonies, so this is highly recommendable despite the low grade sound and shoddy engineering.

The Music: 4/5
While Saint-Saen's symphonies are of a consistently high quality, there are times when a feeling of mellifluousness crops up. This is particularly true of his first (unnumbered) symphony in A. This work is highly reminiscent of Mozart and Schubert and doesn't really present Saint-Saens at his truly inspired.

Fortunately, Symphony No.1 Eb is an exemplary work. It is generally upbeat from start to finish and its finale rarely fails to uplift. This should, by rights, share a place with the 3rd Symphony despite the fact that it doesn't have the same sense of struggle. The 2nd Symphony puts one in mind of Haydn for its structural economy and its thematic sweetness. Otherwise, parallels with both Mendelssohn and (Saint-Saen's contemporary) Bruch are noticeable. These are works which should not be missed.

Naturally, the 3rd Symphony is a known quantity.

Performance: 5/5
The Orchestra National de l'ORTF and Jean Martinon obviously live and breath this music - there is an incisive passion and flare to the playing. At the same time, the orchestral sound is earthy and balances itself well - does anyone else hear shades of the Philharmonia from the 1950s? What should become apparent, here, is a consistently high quality of playing - all we could have asked for, perhaps more besides, despite this orchestra not being one of the world's best. Clearly, to expect playing of the standard of the Wiener or Berliner Philharmoniker would be unfair on the qualities of a different orchestra demonstrated on this record.

At times, more drive, punch or dynamic may be asked for but these are very minor quibbles and rarely obstruct the natural musical quality vested in these scores.

Sound: 2/5
This does get in the way. The orchestra, apparently full bodied, generally comes across as thin and undernourished. The sound, overall, is dry and at times, overly reverberant and quite glassy. The stereo image misses the mark. The orchestra is distant and fogged while the engineering is inconsistent and, often, unpleasant. The work in this area was shoddy. There is little natural warmth to the sound whilst it feels like one may be listening from the very rear of a grand arena. None of this is ideal and it has robbed the orchestra and the music of much of the freshness which a performance of neglected works often has. Bad form EMI a proper reengineering is called for!

Interpretation: 4/5
Here, it is difficult to be conclusive given the lack of competition and other interpretations. All the music is conceived well by the conductor (Jean Martinon) who brings the symphonies off consistently logically and without unnecessary exaggeration or self-consciousness. As has been said, at times greater drive and propulsion could be generated with a greater control of dynamic and balance but overall the conductor does his job effectively and with colour enough to satisfy. The reading of the 3rd is workmanlike and by no means definitive. Barenboim, Levine and Karajan have interpreted this better (among many others). Don't buy this for the 3rd; use the set to complement better recordings of it.

Overall, the sound was a devastating disappointment. The performances are all we could hope for even if they lack the degree of greatness. The quality of Saint-Saens music can't be praised too highly. Overall, this is a highly recommendable set at an attractive price. Because of the lack of another integral set, don't hesitate to add this to a collection.
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