Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 [Original recording remastered]

Itzhak Perlman (Artist), Édouard Lalo (Composer), Camille Saint-Saëns (Composer), Hector Berlioz (Composer), Daniel Barenboim (Conductor), Orchestre de Paris (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris
• Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
• Composer: Édouard Lalo, Camille Saint-Saëns, Hector Berlioz
• Audio CD (June 13, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GO1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,395 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Saint-Saëns's reputation rests on a few popular works--Danse Macabre, Symphony No. 3, The Carnival of the Animals--but his output was far more vast and varied than most people realize. The Third Violin Concerto is one of the great Romantic masterpieces for the instrument, yet it's much less popular than it once was. Whatever the reasons, they certainly aren't Itzhak Perlman's fault, for he simply plays the daylights out of both this piece and Lalo's ever popular Symphonie espagnole. I'm always amazed, when listening to the Saint-Saëns composition, just how well-written it is, and how good it always sounds. Perhaps his level of sheer craftsmanship was so high that people lose sight of the music's genuine inspiration. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful and Glorious, October 11, 2008

By 

Peter Prainito (Lombard, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 (Audio CD)

Recently I heard the beautiful Lalo "Symphonie Espagnole" at a Chicago Symphony concert performed by the orchestra's concertmaster Robert Chen, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. However, I felt that it lacked somewhat in individuality. Therefore I went on a quest and purchased several different recordings of it by the following acclaimed violinists: Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, and Kyung Wha Chung. I'm happy to report that the different recordings and readings are all wonderful and highly recommended. During my search for other recordings, I read the one really negative review of the Perlman rendition and was hesitant to purchase it. Judging from Perlman's great reputation and other wonderful recordings of his that I own, I proceeded to order the CD of the Lalo of which I'm reviewing. I am so happy that I did make this last purchase. As great as the other violinists on my other Lalo "Symphonie Espagnole" recordings are, Perlman really goes to the front of the line in my opinion. His beautiful intonation, amazing technique, and feel for this music (not at all self-indulgent) are just about as perfect as one can hope to get. So much so that if I were forced to keep only one of my Lalo "Symphonie Espagnole" CDs, this would be my choice. Coupled with the Lalo are equally beautiful readings of the Saint-Saens "Violin Concerto No.3" (with a sumptuous middle movement) and the Berlioz "Reverie et Caprice". I might add that not only is Perlman's playing great, but so is that of the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Lastly, the acoustics and sound of this CD are just as glorious as is the playing. Highly recommended.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Somewhere in the middle, June 3, 2005

By 

Vandy (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 (Audio CD)

I am not a fan of Perlman and have seen him live and been very disappointed, but I disagree with the review that this CD was horrible. I found the music to be well performed by both Perlman and the Paris Orchestra. I do beleive that Perlman is not the master everyone wants or beleives him to be, but he did a good job with this recording. While not a must has for a collection of the greatest recordings, the CD would make a fine addition to most collections.

13 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Vacuity in virtuosity, September 1, 2000

By 

Mark McCue (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 (Audio CD)

I'm often accused of being an extreme apologist for the Gallican aesthetic, but I'm really justified in taking this release to task.

I'm not asking that Perlman and Barenboim perform like Thibaud and Paray, but I would expect them to at least give a nod in that direction. Perlman simply lapses into virtuoso vacuity, especially in the Lalo, there's an overuse of rubato, and an irritating sense of his playing down to his material. No one plays down to Saint Saens, for example, and gets away with it. Perlman's runthrough is disfigured and empty with a "look Ma, no hands" kind of brattiness that no old parisienne would put up with. No trip to the patisserie for you, Fifi.

Barenboim waggles away and lets his out-of-sorts ensemble play about any way it wants to. He knows Perlman is hard to control and doesn't even try. Why should he?--his and Perlman's name on the release will make tons of francs no matter how slovenly things get. He didn't really want this City of Light job anyway.

The Berlioz comes off best here, but among the fine songfulness and lyricism Perlman's rubati are so maudlin that a second-rate work isn't really given a chance.

For fine listening of these works, try Amoyal and Paray in the Lalo for its completeness, cleanliness and Gallic effervesence; a ton of good Saint Saens #3s but I single out Ricci and Elman particularly, and the wonderful advocacy of Francescatti for the Berlioz.