Organ Music Volume 2

"The sequence is satisfying and diversified, the affecting charm and delicate catchiness of the G major Prélude et Fugue or A major Improvisation contrasting with the gigantic splendour of the climaxes of the C major and D minor fugues: a majesty of which this Cavaillé-Coll instrument is, one wants to say, uniquely capable."
(The Sunday Times)

"The preludes and fugues make a sharply contrasted trio: the first and last, in D minor and C, are grand in scale and conception; the second, in G, is much more compact and relaxed. Smith makes full use of the resources of the Madeleine instrument to colour them all."
(The Guardian)

"in Andrew-John Smith [Saint-Saens has] an advocate who understands just how to lift from the printed page and project this remarkably rigorous yet beguiling music. The combination of this artist playing this music in such an authentic setting proves to be unbeatable...This disc is a magnificent achievement: the recorded sound is engrossing and is devoid of any hint of the Parisian traffic soundtrack."
(Gramophone)

"His performance of this repertoire is compelling and absorbs the listener from start to finish. The music is of uniformly high quality, played on a fantastic organ by a supremely accomplished performer and is therefore to be highly recommended."
(International Record Review)

British organist Andrew-John Smith once again brings his compelling artistry to the service of Camille Saint-Saëns.

Smith's commanding sense of architecture, breathtaking musicality and astonishing control of dynamics and nuance is thrilling. As with Volume 1, this disc provides a rare opportunity to hear Saint-Saëns's organ works played on the very instrument for which they were composed - the magnificent Cavaillé-Coll at La Madeleine, Paris.

The art of improvisation was essential for French organists and huge importance was placed on the development of this skill. Saint-Saëns was renowned for his extraordinary organ improvisations and it was said that 'his genius was of an indescribable splendour'. In committing these extensive improvisations to paper he offers an insight into his instinctive musical logic and dazzling virtuosity. The Preludes and Fugues bear witness to the composer's improvisatory flare and demonstrate the extent of his vastly imaginative compositional skills.