BaL 7.02.15 - Saint-Saëns: Symphony no. 3

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It sells more records, I suppose, Alain.

I don't know about he technical difficulties of the organ part, but it's quite right to point out that the "title" Organ Symphony skews the balance of this "Symphony with Organ (and Piano Four Hands)". In particular, the opening of the Finale - usually presented as a great fortissimo crash. The score (oops!) just "suggests" a (single) f - leaving the noisy bits until the end.

auricular

Pure gold!

[Roehre]

There are plenty of organists on the Forum who could confirm (or deny) this, but a celebrated organist with whom I am acquainted tells me that he can never understand why it was necessary, other than for marketing purposes, to hire a famous name to play the organ part, since it is undemanding (although he said this before he recorded it himself).
He also suggested that most recordings and indeed performances overlook the idea of its being a symphony wth a part for organ, rather than an organ symphony (athough, once again, he said this before recording it with a spectacular* organ sound). ......

Another widely known organist made a similar remark to me, and added: perhaps we should mention the organist in Mahler's 8th also as one of the soloists

[Nick Armstrong]

The other performance I love is by Les Siècles, with François-Xavier Roth. The organist is the conductor's father, Daniel, playing the incomparable Cavaillé-Coll instrument in St Sulpice, Paris. The orchestra uses instruments of the late 19th century, contemporary with both the piece and the organ; the performance was recorded 'live' in concert in 2010.
RJ

Being a fan of all the above, this is the one that's got my "buy now" finger twitching, irrespective of what GN suggests next week....

[Beef Oven!]

Another widely known organist made a similar remark to me, and added: perhaps we should mention the organist in Mahler's 8th also as one of the soloists

I arrived at this idea all on my own. :big grin:

I think ferneyhoughgeleibte has the explanation.

[Roger Judd]

Meant to say that the recording with James O'Donnell with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, recorded live in the RFH to celebrate the re-birth of the organ there, would be a favourite performance. Unfortunately, the recording includes a demented shriek from an overly-enthusiastic member of the audience immediately on the end of the final chord - not for repeated listening I fear.
RJ

[Nick Armstrong]

widely known organist...

... arrived at this idea all on my own

[Nick Armstrong]

Meant to say that the recording with James O'Donnell with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, recorded live in the RFH to celebrate the re-birth of the organ there, would be a favourite performance. Unfortunately, the recording includes a demented shriek from an overly-enthusiastic member of the audience immediately on the end of the final chord - not for repeated listening I fear.
RJ

It was aggravating in the hall, too

[Petrushka]

Like others I don't go out of my way to hear this or collect CDs of it and have heard it live just once. I've got the Boston SO/Munch and acquired BPO/Karajan in the 1980s box a few weeks back.

I'm not in the market for another one though I might get the LPO/Yannick Nézet-Séguin just for the demented shriek

[Barbirollians]

Meant to say that the recording with James O'Donnell with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, recorded live in the RFH to celebrate the re-birth of the organ there, would be a favourite performance. Unfortunately, the recording includes a demented shriek from an overly-enthusiastic member of the audience immediately on the end of the final chord - not for repeated listening I fear.
RJ

I trust that wasn't Caliban ?

[grandchant]

I've long been interested in the 'organ symphony' versus 'with organ' issue. Another piece of the jigsaw is that I believe the composer wrote that if an organ wasn't available a harmonium could be used; that seems very much at odds with the way this symphony is usually given.

[Barbirollians]

Just listened to the Martinon with Marie Claire Alain again - very exciting and built well to the end of the finale rather than going bang too quickly .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Will this version get a mention?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1aAqnqBOnE

[Ferretfancy]

I think that's in the Mercury Living Presence Box No 2, which I bought recently. I look forward to investigating it.

Box number 3 is due to be released in March.

[Nick Armstrong]

I trust that wasn't Caliban ?

See #37 above!

[EdgeleyRob]

Well it won't be by Alwyn, Lloyd, Rubbra, Simpson, or Tippett, to name just a few!
In fairness, there would not be enough to compare.

There are 4 x Alwyn 3s to compare,would make a nice little BAL.
Probably not many people would want the work in their library sadly.