Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux: Le Cygne (The Swan)

Alison Teale has carefully selected the music on this new CD to illustrate the astonishing versatility of the cor anglais, not only its rich and beautiful melodic lines but also its power and extraordinary agility. Some pieces, such as Lucchetti’s Rock Song, push the boundaries of technique. Others, like Piazzolla’s Nightcub 1960, reveal the glorious upper register.

All the works on this CD are from the French Romantic organ repertoire. They have all enjoyed great popularity and bear the typical characteristics of French Romantic organ writing; melodic elegance, colourful harmonies and compositional clarity. Ben van Oosten performs on the Jann Organ of St. Martin, Dudelange, Luxembourg.

This sensational new release from German cellist Alban Gerhardt recaptures the novelty of the much-loved encores performed by Pablo Casals. Spanish-born Casals was universally recognized as one of the world’s greatest cellists and had a vast repertoire of intimate encores which were adored by his audiences. The disc features transcriptions of works by many notable composers including Fauré, Chopin, Saint-Saëns, Boccherini and Wagner. Also featured are frequently performed musical gems by David Popper: Vito, Chanson villageoise and his Mazurka in G minor, pieces which have gained a special place in the cello literature.

Gerhardt performs these miniature masterworks with extraordinary finesse and verve. His very personal interpretations never lapse into self-indulgence and he projects a distinctive luminescence of tone with infallible intonation. Gerhardt is intelligently partnered and perfectly matched by pianist Cecile Licad on her Hyperion debut. This unique disc demonstrates sublime musicianship, with both performers revelling in a wide expressive scope from the vivacious to the lyrical.

The Calvert-Turner Cello and Harp Duo gave their first concert in 2003 and have performed all over the UK to great critical acclaim. This disc is unique due to its combination of beautiful works for cello with piano or orchestral accompaniment, interpreted by Eleanor Turner at the harp, and original Cello and Harp duets. The release also features a premiere recording of an original Cello and Harp Sonata by the legendary Ravi Shankar.

Saint-Saëns today has become one of those composers known through only a handful of works, but his output was prodigious and there is a great deal of music waiting to be discovered beyond Carnival of the Animals. Unfortunately his long life led to him passing from fame as one of the most naturally gifted musicians ever, to someone who had become passé with the arrival of the likes of Debussy and Ravel. This probably explains the neglect of so much supremely crafted music.

As a classicist Saint-Saëns was attracted to sonata form throughout his life and the two cello sonatas illustrate well the consistency of his compositional style over the 33 years that separate them, there is always a French clarity about the writing and also an irresistible forward momentum which comes from a directness in the structural plan which harks back to Mozart and Beethoven.

By way of encores the disc offers two versions of the famous 'Swan' from Carnival of the Animals. The first was published by the composer before he allowed the release of the rest of Carnival (only published after his death), the second is an arrangement by pianist and Saint-Saëns pupil Godowsky for violin and piano, which has here been further transcribed for cello and piano.

Meticulously chosen to flame desire, this collection of classical masterpieces is the perfect accompaniment to any romantic encounter.

In a century mostly inspired by German romantic orchestral pieces, Saint-Saëns considered wind instruments as on the same level as violin and piano. He is the origin of the French Wind tradition and in the evening of his life, aged 85, came back to composing sonatas turning to wind instruments with enthusiasm.

Eric Aubier has chosen works linked to the impressionist representation of the world. He includes arrangements of well known works by Mussorgsky, Debussy, Fauré, Ravel, Chabrier Ibert and Saint-Saens. The CD is beautifully presented with its own mini impressionist gallery.