A Classic Dutoit/Saint-Saens Disc
Micromegas | Ada, OK | 06/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is absolutely essential in any classical lover's collection; it's the ideal compliation of famous and unknown Saint-Saens, all relatively "light" works, yet on further listenings, each piece grows on you and reveals hidden charms (if not depths). Dutoit's interpretations are golden--they couldn't convey the atmosphere of Saint-Saens sound world with more sympathy or clarity. Everything "sounds" here, and more importantly, it sounds like music worth listening to.
The more familiar pieces--Danse Macabre, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Havanaise, and Le Rouet d'Omphale--are given authoritative, compelling readings, making it okay to add yet another Danse Macabre to your collection. Yet what delights me are the unknown pieces, all of which are phenomenal: Phaeton, full of great melodies and orchestral color, and the extended fantasy Jeunesse d' Hercules, which is a Lisztian symphonic poem on the verge of becoming Strauss. The concluding march (I forget the name at the moment--something "heroic") is also beautiful, noble, and sentimental all at once.
I've owned this CD for well over a decade, and while my interest in Saint-Saens waxes and wanes (but mostly waxes), this disc is one of my great treasures. It's a great into to classical music if you're still searching for a way in, and it's a great comfort after years of extraordinary delights. In short, another reason why Dutoit remains one of my favorite conductors, particularly in French & Russian repertoire."
The Skeletons Dance Tonight
Eric S. Kim | Southern California | 07/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I hate to admit it, but the first time I head Saint-Saen's "Danse Macabre" was when I saw an episode of Disney's "Mickey Mouse Works" back in 2000, and I tried hard to see who composed it (I was thinking Berlioz or Dukas or even R. Strauss at the time). But now I own this disc and it gives me great pleasure to listen to some of Saint-Saen's most dazzling works.
The composer created "Danse Macabre" based on a poem by Henri Cazalis. It tells of Death waking up during every Halloween midnight. He, with his fiddle, summons up the dead and orders them to dance until sunrise. But this is more than just Halloween music. When I listen to it, I think of a young person who has just shrunk to 3 inches tall, and who has escape from the hungers of many creatures of the forest. I know it's strange, but that's what I imagine, really.
And of course, we have other pieces on this disc that are also well worth the listen. "Havanaise" and "Phaéton" are very colorful and very inspirational when it comes to orchestration. "Marche héroïque" and "La jeunesse d'Hercule" remind me of Dvorak and Sibelius and sometimes Borodin when it comes to atmosphere. "Le rouet d'Omphale" and "Introduction and Rondo capriccioso" are addictive. Highly.
Get it while you can. A-"
Beautiful CD, excellent recorded sound
jt52 | New Jersey | 04/06/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This Decca compilation joins together symphonic poems by the French composer Camille Saint-Saens from the 1870s together with two of his well-known virtuosic violin & orchestra works. The performance is absolutely excellent - very sensitive and refined.
Dutoit and the Philharmonia cover the orchestral works, which are from earlier on in Saint-Saens' careers. The "Danse macabre" is the best-known piece but other works, such as "Phaeton", "The Wheel of Omphale" and the lengthy "Youth of Hercules" also have a reputation. Dutoit included a lesser-known "Marche heroique" in the package as well, a work St-Saens wrote for a friend killed in the 1870 war with Germany. The always excellent Kyung-Wha Chung is also featured in two hair-raisingly difficult pieces for violin & orchestra. While there is some patchy playing in "Hercules" and the last note of "Omphale" is flubbed, these occasional lapses shouldn't detract from a very fine, effective interpretation of these highly entertaining and often beautiful works.
In general, I'd say that this is the disc to get if you wish to introduce yourself to the work of St-Saens.
What the other reviewers haven't highlighted is this CDs absolutely outstanding sonics. Precise colors, warmth and fine detail combine into disc at an audio demo level."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1
