Par SAINT-SAENS CAMILLE. Written in 1886 for an annual Mardi Gras concert, The Carnival Of The Animals consists of 14 pieces scored for flute/piccolo, clarinet, glass harmonica (tuned glass bowls), xylophone, 2 pianos and strings. Each piece embodies a zoological motif, painting a musical picture of - among others - a lion, chickens, turtles, an elephant, kangaroos and the immensely popular swan, In his joyful musical romp, the composer borrows from well-known classical works, including references to Berlioz and Mendelssohn in 'The Elephant' and passages of his own Danse Macabre in 'Fossils'. Reprinted from the original, authoritative score, this handsome and inexpensiveedition will charm musicians and music lovers everywhere./ Répertoire / Orchestre

Symphonic poem after a poem by Henri Cazalis. Par SAINT-SAENS CAMILLE. Saint-Saëns was a great admirer of the symphonic poems by Franz Liszt. His own symphonic poem 'Danse macabre' reflects not only his affinity to medieval superstitions but also constitutes a tribute to Liszt's 'Totentanz'. 'Danse macabre' is based on the eponymous song Saint-Saëns composed in 1872 after Henri Cazalis' poem. At its premiere, the work was not well-received: in fact it was booed, possibly due to the 'diabolic' solo violin playing on an E-string that was tuned down to E-flat, which the audience might have misinterpreted as being out of tune. However within ten years the work had become so popular that Saint-Saëns quoted some of its musical themes in 'The Carnival of the Animals'. Since the composer's death, 'Danse macabre' is among the works most often mentioned in connection with the theatrical face of death found in popular mortuary cult. / Date parution : 2019-11-29/ Répertoire / Orchestre