Poulenc, F.: Organ Concerto in G Minor / Saint-Saens, C.: Symphony No. 3, "Organ" / Barber, S.: Toccata Festiva

Featuring

Christoph Eschenbach
Olivier Latry
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Samuel Barber
Francis Poulenc
Camille Saint-Saëns

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Compositional Technique

Camille Saint-Saëns's 'Organ' Symphony integrates progressive Romantic trends within Classical limits, using thematic transformations and incorporating the organ into an orchestral piece, following Franz Liszt's model.

Recording & Production

This recording documents the May 2006 inauguration of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall, the new home of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 2001.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Francis Poulenc explicitly connected his Organ Concerto to his religious music, stating it was not for the concert hall but designed for church performance by limiting the orchestra to strings and timpani.

Composition History

Samuel Barber's Toccata Festiva was commissioned by Mary Louise Curtis Bok Zimbalist, a musical patron, to display a huge Aeolian-Skinner organ she donated to The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Performer Biography

Christoph Eschenbach, the conductor, was mentored by George Szell for over three years and by Herbert von Karajan for nearly 25 years, both of whom greatly influenced his development as a conductor.

Performer Biography

Olivier Latry, organist of Notre-Dame in Paris, is an ambassador of French organ music from the 17th to 21st centuries and is noted for his improvisation skills.

Instruments

The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall, featured on this recording, is the largest concert hall organ in the United States, with 110 stops and 6,938 pipes.