Saint-Saëns: Phaéton, Op. 39

Spartacus. Overture for orchestra

Phaéton, Op. 39

Overture to the opera ‘La Princesse jaune', Op. 30

La jeunesse d'Hercule

Une nuit A Lisbonne, Op. 63

Marche Militaire Francaise

Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila

Marche du couronnement, Op. 117

Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi

The works on this disc are all early, dating from the first half of the composing life of Saint-Saëns – that is, with the one exception of the Marche du couronnement which the composer wrote for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902.

In Spartacus, the composer depicts Alphonse Pagès’s tragedy on the revolt headed by the ill-fated gladiator in 73 BC by use of bold, chromatic notes, followed by a military allegro which integrates them. After a tender theme, the bold notes return, now with a downward turn at the end, probably evoking Spartacus’s defeat, and the concert overture ends with a march that recalls the tender theme.

Equally dramatic is Saint-Saëns’s symphonic poem Phaëton. In ancient Greek myths, Phaëton, the son of Helios, is reluctantly given permission to drive his father’s sun chariot. As Phaëton fails to control the chariot, and carries the sun too close to the earth, Zeus intervenes and brings the unfortunate ride – and Phaëton himself – to an abrupt end by means of a thunderbolt. Saint-Saëns’s writing for large-scale orchestra (including contra-bassoon, tuba, two harps, and three timpanists) brings with it a pure, raw energy. The intense state of panic is signalled by a menacing low note on the trombone and further heightened through subsequent imitative entries that crowd in on one another. After Zeus’s massive thunderbolt, the music subsides into a feeling of loss and regret. Saint-Saëns’s other three symphonic poems are also on this disc – Le Rouet d’Omphale, Danse macabre, and La Jeunesse d’Hercule – as well as the ‘Danse bacchanale’ from Samson et Dalila and the ‘Marche militaire française’ from Suite algérienne.

The works are performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and its Conductor Laureate, Neeme Järvi, who in the course of his conducting career has amassed a distinguished discography of more than 440 recordings, well over 150 of them for Chandos Records. Järvi is celebrating his seventy-fifth birthday this year, and to mark the anniversary we will release a two-disc set of highlights from his extensive Chandos discography in July.

“The Royal Scottish National Orchestra play with consummate elegance for their former music director Neeme Järvi, though their very authentic sound in French music also shows the influence of Stéphane Denève's more recent tenure.” The Guardian, 7th June 2012 ****

“Järvi's programme of symphonic poems, bacchanales and barcarolles ranges from the smokily luxuriant to the swashbuckling. An attractive performance of exotic bon-bons from the RSNO.” The Independent, 24th June 2012 ****

“This is pure pleasure...a collection of sparkling gems...The RSNO is on top form, with shimmering strings, colourful woodwind and swaggering brass, full of wit, colour and joie de vivre. The recording is also outstanding...giving a wonderful, natural bloom that is perfect for this effervescent music.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2012 *****

“The playing is full of character, the music's detail clearly elucidated, the images of Saint-Saens's imagination firmly and atmospherically fixed...All in all this is a disc with plenty to discover and enjoy.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2012

“You can’t imagine these pieces being delivered with more conviction; proof that the relationship between Järvi and the RSNO is as strong as ever.” The Arts Desk, 11th August 2012

BBC Music Magazine

Orchestral Choice - August 2012

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Chandos - CHSA5104

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Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre

Phaéton, Op. 39

La jeunesse d'Hercule

Marche héroique, Op. 34

Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28

Kyung Wha Chung (violin)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Havanaise, Op. 83

Kyung Wha Chung (violin)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Philharmonia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit

“It's enough to make you weep – Saint-Saëns wrote his first tune at the age of three, analysed Mozart's Don Giovanni from the full score when he was five, and at 10 claimed he could play all Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas from memory.
There's some consolation that, according to a contemporary, physically 'he strangely resembled a parrot', and perhaps even his early brilliance was a curse rather than a blessing, as he regressed from being a bold innovator to a dusty reactionary. In his thirties (in the 1870s) he was at the forefront of the Lisztian avant-garde. He was the first Frenchman to attempt Liszt's new genre, the 'symphonic poem', bringing to it a typically French concision, elegance and grace.
Charles Dutoit has few peers in this kind of music; here's playing of dramatic flair and classical refinement that exactly matches Saint-Saëns intention and invention. Decca's sound has depth, brilliance and richness.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Beautifully played performances, recorded in the Kingsway Hall with splendid atmosphere and colour. Charles Dutoit shows himself an admirably sensitive exponent of this repertoire, revelling in the composer's craftsmanship and revealing much delightful orchestral details...Altogether a splendid collection.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition

Decca - 4250212

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Saint-Saëns: 3 Symphonies

Symphony No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 2

Symphony No. 2 in A minor, Op. 55

Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 'Organ Symphony'

Vincent Dubois (organ)

Phaéton, Op. 39

Marche héroique, Op. 34

Orchestre National d’Île de France, Yoel Levi

Saint-Saëns composed a total of five symphonies, three of which bear a number. These three appear on this 2 CD set from Cascavelle, plus the four symphonic poems - Le Rouet d’Omphale, Phaéton, Danse macabre and Marche héroïque. These recordings have little or no competition in this format.

Cascavelle - VEL3136

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Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 'Organ Symphony'

Phaéton, Op. 39

Michael Murray (organ)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Christian Badea

Telarc - CD80274

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Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux, etc.

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Le carnaval des animaux

Phaéton, Op. 39