Saint-Saëns: Symphony 1 & 2

 

If nothing else, this is a stunningly gorgeous sounding recording.

What strikes me strongest are the balances of the winds to strings, where the winds are very much equal partners in the BIS soundscape. Even among themselves, have you ever heard such a bassoon balance with flute, oboe, clarinet, and horn?

French conductor Jean-Jacques Kantorow moves this music forward with an unalloyed uplifting spirit, probably for the best in the early symphonies from Camille Saint-Saëns.  Either way, I don't think these works have ever been treated to finer sonics and beautiful tones.

If you don't know these symphonies from Saint-Saëns, there is an obvious Mendelssohn-ian quality to his preference for light scurryings throughout. The early Symphony in A Major has more of a flavor for Mozart and Beethoven, while Symphony 1 in E-flat Major and Symphony no. 2 in A minor allow the composer to spread his Romantic-Era wings little by little. If in addition to Mendelssohn, I hear snatches of Schumann and even Berlioz, the music is Saint-Saëns' own.

With that being said, the French composer is a conservative symphonic voice, especially in comparison to Berlioz. Certainly the preponderance of the fugue in some movements will automatically some to label him as academic, another genre of interest shared with Mendelssohn.

On the other hand, some will like his arched melodies and phrases, adhesion to structural forms, and intimate orchestrations, yet I daresay few would call these works masterpieces. Rather, this is Saint-Saëns finding his way early in life - the character of the music slightly faceless and restrained, yet colorful and joyous. I have never been particularly swayed by the composer's odd Second Symphony either, further ruined for me by Yondani Butt on ASV, but I could get around to enjoying it more here, I think.

I say intimate orchestrations, but this reminds me of how Saint-Saëns uses the last movements of his symphonies to lead listeners towards surprising musical combustion. All of a sudden, the whole brass section is present, percussion is heeded, and oddities such as saxhorns and quartets of harps come out from cold storage. Conversely, some truly beautiful moments are in store for listeners as well. In the first movement of the First Symphony, the composer unexpectedly pulls back the tempo and lays out a section dedicated to a divine horn solo, one of many such memorable moments in these pieces.

I have nothing but plaudits for this recording. If the symphonies of a youthful Saint-Saëns are not the most inspiring, certainly Kantorow and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège show the music in its best possible light. If you would like a slower, Romantic spirit, Marc Soustrot has a cycle of symphonies on Naxos, but his lumbering and pulling drives me nuts. And of course, the tried and true Jean Martinon set is for true devotees of the composer, although their sound and playing have nothing on this BIS set. Perhaps the newer set from Cristian Măcelaru will bandy between Kantorow's unflagging spirit and a French musical sensibility.

 

 

Works
Symphony in A Major, R. 159 (23.40)
Symphony 1 in E-flat Major, op. 2 (30.06)
Symphony 2 in A minor, op. 55 (20.52)

Ensembles
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, conductor

Label: BIS
Year: 2021
Total Timing: 75.36

 

 

 

Absolutely delightful from start to finish.

The early symphonies of Saint-Saëns may not inspire the greatest confidence as compositions, but the high quality sound from Liège and the willful spirit of Kantorow make a strong case.

This BIS SACD is wonderful!

 

 

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