Review: Fresh, Vibrant Saint-Saëns Ballet Music (from Operas)

Saint-Saëns: Dances and Ballet Music (from Étienne Marcel, Henry VIII, Parysatis, Samson et Dalila). Residentie Orkest, The Hague. Jun Märkl (cond.) Naxos
A must-have release!

[dmntuba]

Another great example of why Naxos is such a fantastic label.
Going to have to get this👍

[nicholasjschlosser]

Thank you so much for bringing this album to our attention. It's shocking how rarely these works are performed or recorded. The Henry VIII Divertissement is such a delightful and tuneful work. I got to know it through the Louis de Froment/Radio Luxembourg recording on Vox and am delighted to see that not only does Markl play two more movements, but also includes even more orchestral music from the opera.

[OuterGalaxyLounge]

I've noticed my local station playing more neglected Saint-Saëns lately, as well as works by previously ignored composers quite a bit as well. The repertory seems to be expanding and discoveries being made. Very interesting time to be a listener.

[marktanney]

Thoroughly enjoyable from end to end. So glad to know of this album.

[ericleiter]

I'm also looking this one up to buy as well... Saint Saens is always so well crafted and tuneful, thanks for the heads up!

[pierrevigna]

As you love Saint-Saëns and you love new musical territories, I am sur you have heard Cyprien Katsaris new Saint-Sëns recording with transcriptions for solo piano of his most famous orchestral works (Organ symphony yes !, Le Carnaval des Animaux, Piano Concerto No.2, Samson & Dalila Bacchanale, Danse macabrle, Africa, etc...). Katsaris really deserves our affection. He is a great explorer, similar to Neeme Jarvi with orchestral music. He would certainly to me be eligible to your "Top 10 best recordings" serie.

[smurashige]

I have this and have been thoroughly enjoying it. As you say, it's really marvelous music. Thank you Naxos!

[atomkraftteddy]

Kind of a surprise De Residentie Orkest is playing that well. Yevgeny Svetlanov was their principal conductor for a few years, that was the sloppy period. Willem van Otterloo and Jean Martinon were his predecessors.

[chadweirick]

Awesome! Maybe could do concert programs featuring the Saint saens symphonies :)

[markbeck]

Yeah, i spelled Anne's name wrong. Caught it. Sorry.

[markbeck]

Just want to give a push for the ballet music of Henry VIII. It is sort of Scottish-Gypsy, an odd combination for an English themed Opera. Also, Anne Bolyn is a hussy mezzo from the French court, sort of like Dalila; and the real heroine of the Opera is the Spanish Queen Catherine of Aragon. Saint-Saens gives you a lot of musical inspirations in this, even Italian Cardinals and English Court Dances. It is a very international Opera.; and really a neglected gem.

[francispanny]

There was another ballet Saint-Saens wrote: "Javotte", a one-act ballet. There is a recording with Andrew Mogrelia and the Queensland Orchestra on Marco Polo. I have yet to hear that one, and see how it sounds compared to the great music I heard on this CD. Anybody else heard of "Javotte"?

[ammcello]

Nice! Buying. Every so often a gem of an album like this reveals itself - the old Geoffrey 2 disc series on Cala, for example. Parysatis dances are so beautiful. And you’re right, some access to excellent opera thanks to BruZane

[bbailey]

A fine release though I was a bit disgruntled that they omitted one of the numbers from the Henry VIII divertissement, the Pas de Highlanders. Those Scots should get their due.
The Samson Bacchanale is one of the most exciting performances I've heard. Definitely worthy of a DeMille Award.