Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals / Ravel: Ma mere l'oye (Mother Goose) ballet [Import]

Saint-Saens (Composer), Maurice Ravel (Composer), Previn (Conductor), Pittsburgh Symphony Orch (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orch
• Conductor: Previn
• Composer: Saint-Saens, Maurice Ravel
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000040VI
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Introduction et Marche royale du Lion - Poules et Coqs - Hemiones (Animaux veloces) - Tortues - L'Elephant - Kangourous - Aquarium - Personnages a longues oreilles - Le Coucou au fond des bois - Volieres - Pianistes - Fossiles - Le Cygne - Final

2. Prelude - Danse du rouet et Scene - Interlude - Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant - Interlude - Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete - Interlude - Petit Poucet - Interlude - Laideronette, Imperatrice des Pagodes - Interlude - Apotheose: Le jardin ...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and ethereal account., July 30, 2000

By 

Timothy Mikolay (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals / Ravel: Ma mere l'oye (Mother Goose) ballet (Audio CD)

I have heard the Pittsburgh Orchestra live and on disc and aside from their thrilling and passionate performance of Mahler's 6th back in May '92 at Heinz Hall under Maazel, I am convinced that this Saint-Saens/Ravel recording is their greatest performance, if not one of their greatest.

The tenderness with which the players execute their passages in the Ravel is simply beautiful. The interludes between the movements convey such a flow as to simulate a soft, seemingly endless spring breeze. Previn and the Pittsburgh's reading leaves me breathless every time I listen to it, even though I never get the feeling that I can't breathe with the music. There is a musical flow and grace this session produced that always seems to be lacking on other discs, which sound clunky and jointed. The recording was made in 1980 and I have not heard a performance comparable to this, and probably never will.

The Saint-Saens reading is joyful and as "animalistic" as one can get. The Aquarium is in my opinion, the most beautiful on record. The pianists play very well and also play musically. Too many pianists play Saint-Saen's Carnival like warm-ups. This Carnival is a "must experience" recording.

This is a timeless and precious disc to listen to.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Cd, November 2, 2011

By 

madbull60 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals / Ravel: Ma mere l'oye (Mother Goose) ballet (Audio CD)

The sound was good and clear, and it was also really cheap. These are two of my favorite romantic pieces.

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Carnival, November 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals / Ravel: Ma mere l'oye (Mother Goose) ballet (Audio CD)

The Swan never sounded more lovely.