Camille Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony/Tone Poems

Camille Saint-Saens (Composer), Lorin Maazel (Conductor), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Anthony Newman (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Anthony Newman
• Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Lorin Maazel
• Composer: Camille Saint-Saens
• Audio CD (November 5, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000296V
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,117 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Organ'), Op. 78: I. Adagio - Allegro moderato

2. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Organ'), Op. 78: Poco Adagio

3. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Organ'), Op. 78: II. Allegro maestoso - Presto

4. Symphony No. 3 in C minor ('Organ'), Op. 78: Maestoso - Allegro

5. Phaéton, symphonic poem in C major, Op. 39

6. Danse macabre, symphonic poem in G minor, Op. 40

7. Samson et Dalila, opera in 3 acts, Op. 47: Act III,Dance Bacchanale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Organ Symphony Dichotomy, July 26, 2006

By 

Christopher Henrici (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Camille Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony/Tone Poems (Audio CD)

While this CD featuring some of Saint Saens most popular works is recorded using a favorable microphone technique and achieves excellent sound quality, for the 3rd symphony, the Organ parts were recorded in a church seperately and dubbed in at a later date. Performance purists will not like this fact since it is seperate performance times and locations of the same piece involving considerable patchwork and editing to pull it off. But both are done using the minimal microphone technique from the early days of stereo by RCA, Mercury and Decca, and one which many classical music listeners prefer as it gives a sound closer to being in the hall. So the disc presents something of a dichotomy. On the plus side the organ sounds as big and powerful as I've heard for this piece, and I like the performance of the Orchestra conducted by Maazel. He lets the pieces breath without too tight a rein. It sounds sensible. There is no strong signature exercised by the conductor. He let's the music through without contorting it. The other pieces included have no organ and so don't have any continuity issues. Danse Macabre is great. Overall the RCA BSO/Munch Organ symphony still rules but if you want a more recent one with good sound quality, this CD is worthy. I have heard a few others that are not as good as this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An elegant and earthy recording, August 16, 2006

By 

tompy0904 "Micah Tompkins" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Camille Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony/Tone Poems (Audio CD)

Personal preference is a massive aspect in the world of music. While one conductor will read a piece as elegant, another will see its bitter irony. One might focus on its desperation while another sees the glimmer of hope in the music. Unfortunatly, there are always individuals who must make their way through the musical hayfields to find the needle.

Pittsburgh, while being criticized of late for their orchestral style, does a fine job with the "Organ". Maazel lets the music move on its own, not by his direction. He doesn't lead the music, he keeps it under control. Of the other "top" recordings of the 3rd (Ozawa, Munch and Levine), Maazel's is the one where the music actually thrives. While Ozawa's finale is quite well done, he tends to fly through at times without a thought. Levine's is very well thought out but rarely does it ever take flight without his help. Munch's, while a classic, is not a thriller. It tends to bog down then flit off which makes for a confusing interpretation. While I have heard other recordings besides these, I have not heard them enough times to comment responsibly. The Maazel is the most elegant and passionate INTERPRETATION even if it is not the finest in ORCHESTRAL PLAYING. While Pittsburgh does a fine job, they are never as tight as could be expected, sometimes almost annoyingly so. It is for this reason (and because of the previously mentioned organ being recorded seperately then being edited in) that it recieves only 4 stars. The rest of the disc is very well done as well, Danse bacchanale being quite the showpiece to close the record.

As we follow in the footsteps of those needle-seekers who have come before us, let us keep our eyes open to the whole field and see the big picture. There will always be something to dislike, something to pick at or be indignant about. But perhaps with an open mind, those issues may start to grow on us and possibly be accepted.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This is good?, May 9, 2000

By 

Timothy Mikolay (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Camille Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony/Tone Poems (Audio CD)

Too many times, the Pittsburgh winds and strings have fallen prey to the bombastic playing by their colleagues in the percussion and brass sections. This time the organ is out of control as well. Though everyone plays superbly, the balance of the orchestral voices is annoying. EMI released a Saint-Saens 3rd approximately at the same time that is far superior to this recording. This is not one of Pittsburgh's finest.