SAINT-SAENS: Organ Symphony [CD de audio] Orchestre National de l'o.R.T.F., Saint-Saens and Jean Martinon

When Franz Liszt heard Camille SaintSaëns playing the organ at the Madeleine in Paris, he hailed him as the greatest organist in the world. SaintSaëns' talents did not end there: he was a gifted composer among his most famous works were The Carnival of the Animals and Danse Macabre and, naturally, the symphony in which he used his own virtuoso instrument would become one of his most beloved works. This collection brings together his revered Organ Symphony and the Symphony in Fa Urbs Rome. SaintSaëns originally subtitled the Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 87 (unusually arranged in only two movements) as simply avec orgue; The organ does not appear as a solo instrument, but its presence alongside the orchestra adds an exciting dimension to the piece, especially in the lower pedal notes and the lovely dialogues between organ and strings. The addition of the arpeggios of the piano part (written for four hands) provides a wonderful contrast to the thunder of the organ. The Symphony in Fa Urbs Roma is the longest of SaintSaëns' symphonic compositions and remained unpublished during the composer's lifetime. The first movement brims with elegant strings, while the subsequent Molto vivace invokes a whirling dance. The third movement has been described as a funeral march for the death of an empire, after which the subsequent Poco allegretto Andante con moto brings the work to a quiet close. The works are performed by the Orchester National de lORTF conducted by Jean Martinon, with acclaimed organist Bernard Gavoty.