Saint Saens Symphonic Poems

Many Romantic composers owe their fame to one of their symphonic poems. Alongside acknowledged French masterpieces in the genre, the fifteen tracks presented here include four previously unrecorded works and several rarities by women composers. The Orchestre National de Lyon, a great champion of French Romantic music, offers a palette of shimmering colours under the baton of Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider as it relates in music the legend of Merlin the Magician, the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty and the misadventures of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

The Irish-French composer Augusta Holmès (1847-1903) is one of those female composers who knew how to overcome all hindrances with natural élan. "Like children, women have no concept of obstacles and their willpower tears down all walls," said her colleague Camille Saint-Saëns. He hit the nail on the head, as the three-movement tone poem Roland Furieux disarmingly demonstrates. Just as the strong emotions of the knight, who temporarily loses his mind in a love frenzy, so too are the surges of Holmès' orchestra, which she masters with awe-inspiring self-confidence in all its nuances. This artistry is present whether she is writing works with a national flavour or bringing mythical figures to life in song, as in the enchanting Andromède, who is saved from the "Battle of the Titans" by the loving Perseus.

The Irish-French composer Augusta Holmès (1847-1903) is one of those female composers who knew how to overcome all hindrances with natural élan. "Like children, women have no concept of obstacles and their willpower tears down all walls," said her colleague Camille Saint-Saëns. He hit the nail on the head, as the three-movement tone poem Roland Furieux disarmingly demonstrates. Just as the strong emotions of the knight, who temporarily loses his mind in a love frenzy, so too are the surges of Holmès' orchestra, which she masters with awe-inspiring self-confidence in all its nuances. This artistry is present whether she is writing works with a national flavour or bringing mythical figures to life in song, as in the enchanting Andromède, who is saved from the "Battle of the Titans" by the loving Perseus.

THE ANALOGUE YEARS presents a 50-Album overview across 54 CDs, in original jackets, of the celebrated international recordings that emerged from the London-based record label in that pre-digital era.

Verlaine’s poetry lends itself well to music and many of his poems have been set successfully by numerous composers. Thus it was a brilliant idea to build a programme around Verlaine and include several settings of some of the poems. Since Carolyn Sampson has cast her net widely and included several rarely heard composers, we are offered a very comprehensive odyssey through the Verlainean waters.

Zubin Mehta and Los Angeles Philharmonic - Complete Decca Recordings (2020) {38CD Box Set, Decca 485 0374}
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© 2020 Decca Records | 485 0374
Classical / Orchestral

Zubin Mehta’s tenure of over 16 years as the musical director of the ‘LA Phil’ marks an important chapter in the orchestra’s history. The recorded portrait of the musical partnership between the first American orchestra to be exclusively contracted by a British recording company and the dynamic maestro is explored here in this new edition.

RCO - Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vol 1, 1935-1950 (2002) {13CD Box Set Q Disc 97017, Limited Edition}
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© 1935-50, 2002 Radio Netherlands Music / Q Disc | 97017
Classical / Orchestral / Symphony / Romantic / Early 20th Century

Böhm was reported to have told the Wiener Philharmoniker towards the end of his life "I loved you as one can only love a woman". Listening to this boxset, capturing the Concertgebouworkest at the peak of its powers (between 1935 and June 1941), still at a commendable level (between July 1941 and 1944) before having to rebuild from the ashes of war (1945 to 1947) to finally come back to the highest level (1949-1950), the careful auditor has history in the making unfolding with its drama, its joys, but essentially its incommensurable beauty.