SAINT-SAENS: Organ Symphony [CD de audio] Orchestre National de l'o.R.T.F., Saint-Saens and Jean Martinon

When Franz Liszt overheard Camille SaintSaëns playing the organ at the Madeleine in Paris, he hailed the young Frenchman as the greatest organist in the world. SaintSaëns talents did not end there: he was a gifted composer among his most famous works are The Carnival of the Animals and Danse Macabre and, naturally, the symphony in which he used his own virtuoso instrument would become his one of his bestloved works. This collection brings together his revered Organ Symphony and the Symphony in F Urbs Roma. SaintSaëns originally subtitled Symphony No.3 in C minor Op.87 (unusually arranged in just two movements) as simply avec orgue; the organ does not feature as a solo instrument, but its presence alongside the orchestra adds an exciting dimension to the piece, especially in the lowest pedal notes and the delightful dialogues between the organ and strings. The addition of the arpeggios of the piano part (scored for four hands) provides a wonderful contrast to the organs thunderous notes