Saint-Saëns Chamber Works
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Camille Saint-Saëns
Label: Arabesque
Magazine Review Date: 10/1989
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: ABQC6570
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (Le) Carnaval des animaux, 'Carnival of the Animals' |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Claude Hobson, Piano Ian Hobson, Piano Illinois Sinfonia da Camera |
| Septet |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Illinois Sinfonia da Camera |
| Allegro appassionato |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Ian Hobson, Piano |
| (6) Bagatelles |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Ian Hobson, Piano |
Composer or Director: Camille Saint-Saëns
Genre:
Chamber
Label: Arabesque
Magazine Review Date: 10/1989
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 69
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: Z6570
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (Le) Carnaval des animaux, 'Carnival of the Animals' |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Claude Hobson, Piano Ian Hobson, Piano Illinois Sinfonia da Camera |
| Septet |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Illinois Sinfonia da Camera |
| Allegro appassionato |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Ian Hobson, Piano |
| (6) Bagatelles |
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns, Composer Ian Hobson, Piano |
Author: Ivan March
Saint-Saens's Carnaval des animaux was not heard publicly until after his death and the original version, scored for 11 players, was intended for domestic performance—though a large salon would have been needed. The present record recreates this effect, choosing an unflatteringly dry acoustic. The playing is spirited, the double-bass is attractively gruff, the ''Personages with long ears'' project effectively and the ''Pianists'' raise a smile with their intentional clumsiness. Considering the lack of resonance, ''The cuckoo in the forest'' is surprisingly atmospheric and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi glides seductively in his famous cello solo, the final parade, not taken too fast, has the dearest detail, with the composer's witty quotation coming out well. But in the end the dry acoustics tell against one's enjoyment of the geniality and warmth of the writing, and this applies even more to the Trumpet Septet, which, with the string group failing to make a strong impact, becomes a kind of chamber trumpet concerto. The most successful movement by far is the finale, where the piano and trumpet achieve an agreeably fluent partnership. A good deal of the blame for this rests with Saint-Saens, for the combination of trumpet, two violins, viola, double-bass and piano is an almost impossible one to balance, and much of his invention is rather garrulous. But the presentation is not helped by the very dead timbre the recording affords to the trumpet soloist, Michael Tunnell, who is a good player and obviously is not trying to drown everyone else.
We are also offered some piano music, the Allegro appassionato of which lan Hobson makes a good deal, and the Six Bagatelles where his playing is less persuasive. The style of the writing is unexpectedly Schumannesque and Hobson doesn't find a great deal of charm. He is well recorded. No one could complain about lack of presence on this CD but I am sure that both major works, and especially the Septet, could be far more effective if carefully balanced within a larger studio.'
We are also offered some piano music, the Allegro appassionato of which lan Hobson makes a good deal, and the Six Bagatelles where his playing is less persuasive. The style of the writing is unexpectedly Schumannesque and Hobson doesn't find a great deal of charm. He is well recorded. No one could complain about lack of presence on this CD but I am sure that both major works, and especially the Septet, could be far more effective if carefully balanced within a larger studio.'
Saint-Saëns Chamber Works
Saint-Saëns Chamber Works
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