Customer Reviews

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 'Organ'; Poulenc: Organ Concerto

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jean Martinon was a superior conductor, especially in his native French repertoire. This CD has excellent sound, great orchestral playing and highly musical interpretations. Everything sounds just right. If you buy this CD, program it to end with the symphony. It will give you 71 minutes of pure, musical pleasure.

This CD is especially appreciated as a reminder of the prominent position France once held in the musical and artistic world as well as the international arena. I mean, how much more French could you get - Camille Saint-Saens, Francis Poulenc and Marie-Claire Alain - three musical giants.

This is really a wonderful album, deeply felt, the Gallic flavor quite intense. It is NOT just an organ CD: "Le Rouet D'Omphale" and "Danse Macabre" are included as well as the two signature works - the Third Symphony by Saint-Saens and the Concerto for Organ in G Minor by Poulenc. In an ironic turn, the (in my opinion) inferior Saint-Saens has triumphed in the public mind over the far superior Poulenc. When one considers the treatment of the organ and orchestra, there is no contest. Also, the work by Poulenc had a striking originality - from the gargantuan theme to the "merry go round" finale (what a stroke of genius).

Although the Third Symphony pales slightly by comparison, Alain gives her 110% as she does on all her recordings. She has stated in the past that she has no national preference but undeniably she arises to the occasion when performing Widor, Vierne, Franck or any works by her own famous relatives. This CD is an easy five star. PLEASE - if you want to hear the organ in all its glory (it's the famous Saint Sulpice), purchase GREAT TOCCATAS with Ms. Alain - a stunning work of incredible virtuosity.

The original recording was made in 1966. Of course it lacks the super-hi fidelity of todays DDD recordings, however, the performance of Marie Clair Alain and that of conductor Jean Martinon by far overshadows the shortcomings of fidelity. I have three other performances of this work and have heard actually dozens more and this disc tops them all. It was like hearing the great Symphony for the first time.

This budget CD couples two separate analog recordings from 1971 (according the the Gramophone), not 1966. The earlier reviewer who praises Marie-Clair alain to the skies is right on target. She is the only soloist I've ever heard in the brass-bound Saint-Saens "Organ" Sym. who lights a fire under the part, taking charge the way one expects a piano soloist to take charge in the Tchaikovsky concerto. She plays an instrument with a great reedy honk in its tone -- exactly the kind that the Hunchback of Notre Dame would play -- and the effect is suitably terrifying. Martinon shares her fiery approach, and on the whole it would be hard to ask for anything better. To add to one's delight, the ORTF sounds very French, with its piping, nasal woodwinds, so on the grounds of timbre alone this Saint-Saens Third is my first choice in the catalog.

The major coupling is also a first choice, a reading of the Poulenc Organ Cto. that sweeps the field, again thanks to Alain, who is riveting, and Martinon's vigorous, completely idiomatic conducting. For along time I was devoted to the old EMI recording with Maurice Durufle, but Georges Pretre's accompaniment is crude compared to what Martinon does -- he captures Poulenc's bounce from reverence to Hollywood flair. it's like praying in church and then seeing Errol Flynn jump through the stained- glass windows. As far as the sound of this digital issue goes, one can hardly complain given the excellence of the performances and the pennies being asked at Amazon Marketplace. However, it must be conceded that this isn't the CD to buy if you are out solely for supersonic thrills. Sadly, that's what draws most listeners into the Saint-Saens, which has become the organ version of The Planets or also Sprach Zarathustra. But if you have decided that the work is all mouth and no trousers, this superb CD will change your mind. a word to the wise.

This is a magnificent recording that will show off the capabilities of any sound system.