[ Naxos / CD ]
Release Date: Sunday 5 March 2017
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Saint-Saëns' travels often resulted in geographically themed works, such as the Suite algérienne: this exotic musical picture postcard - full of perfumed sensuality and the brazen confidence of march themes - reflects the composer's visits to colonial North Africa. The two suites on this recording are both structured around dance movements and were originally scored for different forces - the Suite in D major, Op. 49 for harmonium, the Suite in D minor, Op. 16 for cello and piano. The engaging Serenade, Op. 15, rarely performed with its original, exotic scoring, is heard here in an orchestral transcription.
"Guillermo Pastrana performs the cello solos with fine musicianship and Jun Märkl conducts with taste, avoiding any sort of bombast. The Basque National Orchestra plays beautifully for him and the sound is of a high calibre." MusicWeb
"Jun Märkl and the Basque National Orchestra are ideal interpreters of Saint-Saëns, restrained but with real grace, and the strings in this little-known orchestra rise to the occasion. A nice find for lovers of French music." AllMusic.com
Suite algerienne, Op. 60, R. 173
Suite in D Major, Op. 49, R. 165
Suite in D Minor, Op. 16b, R. 211
Sérénade, Op. 15 (version for orchestra)