Search - Saint-Saens, Chorzempa, Maag :: Organ Symphony

Outstanding performance by fine, lesser-known conductor.

D. R. Schryer | Poquoson, VA United States | 05/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Peter Maag was an very fine conductor who, regretably, never received the recognizion he deserved. Maag had a particular genius for the music of Mozart and Mendelssohn, but his performance of Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3 is also outstanding. This symphony (which is sometimes called the "Organ" Symphony because it is scored for orchestra and organ) is Saint-Saens' orchestral masterpiece and Maag does it full justice--revealing not only its majesty and grandeur but also its beautiful melodies and felicities of harmony and orchestration. This is one of the finest performances of this symphony available at any price. At this price it is an incredible bargain."

Superb performance, ideal tempo, splendid execution

Bitflippper | Dallas, Texas, USA | 03/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have listened to dozens of renditions of the Saint-Saens Symphony #3 (The Organ Symphony). I always come back to this one as my favorite. The phrases, the nuances of tempo, the registrations that Daniel Chorzempa uses are just surperb. On so many recordings, the 4th movement seems like its either "off to the races" or the organ is so overpowering that it drowns everything else out. Some conductors go through that last movement so fast that it actually becomes painful to listen to. Not so here where a delicate blend of organ and orchestra creates so wonderous a mystique that you just HAVE to turn up the stereo to shake the walls. The 2nd movement is equally as nice: the right blend, the right delicate balance that makes it a joy to listen to over and over again. I like it so much that I used this movement in my Bose Wave Radio to wake up to every morning.I might note that I have been a professional organist. As such, I tend to be far more critical of works where an organ is involved than most. If you like organ at all, this work should be part of your collection.Finally, do NOT let the low price put doubt in your mind. The performance is outstanding; the post production engineering just right.This CD is truly a gem that belongs in every classic music lover's collection."

Underrated Conductor, Great Performance

Pennsylvania Settler | Pittsburgh, PA United States | 11/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've heard quite a few versions of this piece, and this one is my favorite. The balance between the orchestra and the organ is just right. The work features piano too, and if its presence in this piece is too 'out front' and noticeable it can be distracting and even jarring. Not so in this recording--the piano sounds very natural, as if it were a normal part of the orchestra. Also the tempi seem to me to be very natural, neither rushed nor lagging. Maag was an excellent conductor, another one of the underrated greats, like Skrowaczewski and Dorati, and it shows in this performance. Check out his recording of Mendelssohn's 3rd Symphony on London/Decca. Another plus is the fact that the disc was engineered by Tony Faulkner, who has done much fine work for the Hyperion label. The sound is great.



Don't let the low price fool you, or the fact that the disc is relatively short and contains no couplings. It would be a good bargain at double the price!"