IDAGIO | Saint-Saëns: Symphonic Poems - Le Carnaval des animaux - L'Assassinat du duc de Guise 5400863055103

Featuring

François-Xavier Roth
Les Siècles
Camille Saint-Saëns

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Cultural Impact

Saint-Saëns's "L'Assassinat du Duc de Guise" (1908) is considered the first film music in history, written for a short silent film.

Recording & Production

This recording features a Pleyel 'double piano' from 1928, an instrument with two keyboards facing each other, which allows two performers to play together.

Composition History

Saint-Saëns composed "Le Carnaval des animaux" as a surprise for his friend, the cellist Charles Lebouc, intending it as a private joke for a Mardi Gras concert.

Compositional Technique

"Le Carnaval des animaux" is a 'grand zoological fantasy' that uses a varied and unusual combination of instruments, including two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, glass armonica, and xylophone.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Camille Saint-Saëns was inspired by Franz Liszt's symphonic poems, which showed him the path to composing works like "Danse macabre" and "Le Rouet d'Omphale."

Interpretation

Les Siècles orchestra aims to recreate not only the instrumental texture of the period but also a certain cultural approach to music, including the enunciation of notes, which is a hallmark of French musical training.