It is unfortunate that
Saint-Saëns is celebrated for only
a relatively small part of his prolific
output; namely the Tone Poem: Danse
macabre, the Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ’
and The Swan, from the Carnival
of the Animals. However the music
of this multi-talented composer has
for a number of years been undergoing
a welcome resurgence. Hyperion have
been partly responsible for this in
the form of their thanks award-winning
set of The Complete Works for Piano
and Orchestra recorded in 2000-01
by Stephen Hough and the CBSO under
Sakari Oramo on CDA67331/2. One only
has to hear the two Piano Trios to
be aware of the magnificent scores that
await general discovery. Thankfully
this anthology of previously released
material from the Erato label, now available
on this super-budget priced Warner Classics
Apex disc, will go a long way to assist
the composer’s case. In short these
chamber works are simply superb and
this set is one of my records of the
year.
Saint-Saëns wrote
his passionate first Violin Sonata
in 1885 whilst at the height of
his compositional powers, which was
around the time of the famous Carnival
of the Animals and the celebrated
‘Organ’ Symphony. By the time
of the first Violin Sonata he
was now a most experienced composer
for the violin having written his three
Violin Concertos and the celebrated
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
for Violin and Orchestra. This is
a fine performance from the admirable
team of violinist Olivier Charlier and
pianist Jean Hubeau who are most natural
and never over-project their expression.
I particularly enjoyed their interpretation
of the first movement Allegro agitato
which for the first time in this
work allows me to hear impressionist
suggestions.
Composed in 1896 the
second Violin Sonata is more
classical in approach yet is no less
engaging especially in a performance
as fine as this. The third movement
Andante is especially well performed,
long on expression and short on self-indulgence.
Overall there is a strong sense of assurance
and conviction from the well matched
soloists which is both gratifying and
admirable.
In spite of the considerable
merits of this version from Charlier
and Hubeau on Apex the heightened sense
of engagement and extra tenderness on
the splendid new recording of the first
Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata from
Sarah Chang and Lars Vogt on EMI Classics
5 57679 2 remains my leading recommendation.
The attractive coupling of the Franck
and Ravel Violin Sonatas add
to the appeal of the EMI Classics release.
Composed over a span
of fifty years the four Pieces for
Violin and Piano; the Berceuse,
the two Elegies and the Romance
are wonderful scores that are more
than mere miniatures and deserve to
be better known in the chamber repertoire.
The gifted soloists offer really delightful
interpretations of these enchanting
and often beautiful scores.
Refined, inventive
and of the highest musical calibre the
String Quartets No. 1 in E minor
and No. 2 in G major are
products of the composer’s full maturity.
For me they demand repeated plays before
completely revealing their manifold
rewards to the listener. Composed when
Saint-Saëns was aged 65 the four
movement String Quartet No. 1 has
been described as, ‘a beautifully proportioned
work’. My personal highlight is the
supremely expressive manner that the
magnificent Quatuor Viotti bring to
the first movement Allegro which
projects a pastoral mood that could
have emanated from the pen’s of Howells
or Delius. A ‘model of clarity’, the
three movement String Quartet No.
2 was one of the composer’s very
last compositions. Really striking is
the exceptional and charming central
movement Molto adagio which I
would describe as a true masterpiece.
The playing of Quatuor Viotti has great
warmth with considerable finesse and
refinement throughout.
I remain impressed
with the interpretations of the two
Saint-Saëns String Quartets
by the Medici String Quartet on
Koch Schwann 3-6484-2 from 1997. However
these two accounts by Quatuor Viotti
are now the ones to have for their high
calibre of playing and for their masterful
penetration into the very heart of the
scores.
I found the recorded
sound satisfactory demonstrating a bright
piano compared to a slightly dry but
pleasing violin tone. Concise, interesting
and informative annotation.
Simply wonderful chamber
works superbly performed. This disc
would have been strongly recommended
at full-price. An indispensable release.
Michael Cookson
Quatuor Viotti