Sym 3 Organ/Sorcerers Apprenti

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Composer : Camille Saint-Saens
Composer : Paul [composer] Dukas
Conductor : James Levine
Orchestra : Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Performer : Simon Preston

Product Details

Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0028941961723
Label : Deutsche Grammophon
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2008-03-17
Running Time : 47minutes
UPC : 028941961723

ASIN : B000001G85

Track Listings for

Disc-1
1. Symphony Nr.3 C-Moll Op.78 (Orgel-Symphonie): 1. Adagio - Allegro moderato
2. Symphony Nr.3 C-Moll Op.78 (Orgel-Symphonie): Poco adagio
3. Symphony Nr.3 C-Moll Op.78 (Orgel-Symphonie): 2. Allegro moderato - Presto - Allegro moderato
4. Symphony Nr.3 C-Moll Op.78 (Orgel-Symphonie)): 2. Maestoso - Allegro - Molto allegro - Pesante
5. Der Zauberlehrling Scherzo nach einer Ballade von Goethe

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

James Levine's is currently the hottest version of the Sorcerer, rivalling the old Toscanini account in impetuosity, but far better recorded. The choice of companion piece is a good one, though the length (47:05) is unpleasantly short for a full-price disc. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews

Fantastic (2004-04-05)

This is the CD to buy if you are looking for the definitive recorded version of both Saint-Saëns' great "Organ" Symphony and Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice. James Levine, a master in his own right, brings vision and energy to these famous orchestral staples. Levine and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra play with vigor, power, and gusto is this polished, yet spontaneous sounding recording from DG. I will agree with some of the other reviewers in saying that the performance does not sound particularly "French." Indeed, the orchestral forces are not as smooth as in Dutiot's recoding of the symphony. However, that by no means suggests that this recording is incorrect or bad. I like the think, creamy, powerful sounds Levine creates with the BPO. Climaxes are terribly exciting while the sublime second music is inspiring. Simon Preston's accompaniment is equally dazzling. All in all, this recording of the "Organ" Symphony is top-notch.

Dukas' musical career rests in a handful of works, the most famous being this piece, the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Made famous by Fantasia, this work is truly a masterpiece of the French romantic tradition. Its influence on future composers also makes this a historically important work. Stravinsky, who was a pupil of Dukas, was certainly inspired by this piece in some of his earlier works. Levine's reading with the BPO is awe-inspiring. The playing is perfect, the recorded sound is crystal clear, the energy and emotion is unmatched. This is the version to own.

This CD is highly recommended. You cannot go wrong.

Magnificently performed, better than Karajan (2003-03-28)

Currenlty, I own two different recordings of Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony. Both is under the same company (Grammophon), and played by the same orchestra (Berlin Phil).

This recording, with the orcehstra under the baton of Maestro James Levine, and the organ soloist being Simon Preston, is magnificently played. I rate it a superb performance. The balance between the organ and the orchetra is great. No brass overblowing, and no strings making a drudging heavy play. The timpi, especially each different detail of the mighty second-half of the concluding movement (the music you might have heard in the movie "Babe") is just the way I favor; crisp, smooth, and a perfect timing on ending the piece.

The other recording I own is with Pierre Cochereau on organ, and the conductor being the famous Herbert von Karajan. Yes, that performance is great, but it's a bit too "heavy". Karajan was a man who tends to add weight on the orchestra's sound pretty often, but I didn't think the Organ Symphony had to be so compressed. At some time, the organ is a bit overpowering the orcehstra. I didn't quite like the tempi either.

Both recordings is great, but I rather recommend this CD under Levine.

there's something missing (2001-07-28)

Certainly Levine and BPO play magnificently. However, the problem is, it doesn't sound like Saint-Saens. Levine performs this piece like the Bruckner. There's no Gallic charm at all, it sounds just heavy. And BPO betrays too much of its German quality. The Dutoit on Decca has more idiomatic Saint-Saens sound with full of Gallic nuance.

Hermoso disco. (2001-03-07)

Una poderosa y brillante interpretación de la Tercera Sinfonía de Saint Saens, la que nos entrega en esta lectura el Maestro James Levine. La concepción entusiasta con un tempo correcto más una espléndida sonoridad de la Berliner Philharmoniker, hacen de este disco probablemente la mejor interpretación de la obra en DDD, puesto que hasta el momento nadie a podido superar la versión de Charles Munch con la Boston Symphony Orchestra en RCA (ADD). Prepárese antes de la entrada del Organo en el movimiento final, pues es sencillamente IMPRECIONANTE, apoyados por una excelente grabación de la Deutsche Grammophon. Además el disco nos entrega una hermosa interpretación del "Aprendiz del hechicero" de Dukas, comparto la opinión de Ted Libbey de que esta interpretación no trae un recuerdo a la famosa del Maestro Toscanini.

Francisco J. Muñoz

A towering performance of a magnificent symphony. (2000-05-16)

Probably 90% of Saint-Saens' discography is formed by recordings of a few masterpieces: this one, and some concertos ( Piano n.2, Cello n.1, Violin n.3). Not a bad achievement for a composer sometimes accused by the snobbier critics of being academic, but a pity nonetheless, because his large output deserves a deeper knowledge. Try, for example, the 5 piano Concertos on Emi (Collard/RPO/Previn) or the little-known other four symphonies (there are a mid-price 2-disc set from Martinon/Emi and a splendid, hard-to-find Erato disc that couples n.1&2 conducted by Pretre). Maybe Saint-Saens wasn't the most profound of the composers but, at his best, he had a prodigiously fluent, charming inventiveness and superbly accomplished technique. Levine's task was very challenging, but in my opinion he scores over all his competitors, even the most revered (Karajan, Ormandy, Maazel). There's a sense of thrill and theatrical grandeur about this performance that I find irresistible, and this is achieved without brashness or vulgarity. Actually there are several finely nuanced moments: the slow movement (strings with haunting organ chords in the background) is wonderful and the part for pianoforte concertante has never been so clearly and delicately presented. I think that the decision to record the organ together with the orchestra -very often they are taped separately-, greatly contributed to the sense of occasion and Simon Preston's is a superb contribution: his entry in the finale, for example, is not merely loud, but genuinely majestic. The Berliners play marvelously for Levine: every orchestral section (and S.-S. uses them all without inhibitions!) displays that blend of aristocratic virtuosity and white-hot intensity that is almost unmatched by any other orchestra. Also , the Dukas is more than a simple fill-up, because it's presented with a thrust and fire to rival Stokowski , and there's no higher praise! Unlike many other DG horribly coarse recordings from the 80's, this is also well recorded: if the tutti are still a bit brash, the overall sound is incredibly full and immediate , analitically captured by the engineers and massively delivered to the listener, with stunning dynamics. An all-time personal favorite.

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