Saint Saëns Symphonie avec orgue Poulenc Concerto pour orgue

Description

This album features two major works: the Symphony for Organ by Saint-Saëns and the Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani by Poulenc, the latter being less known but equally grand. Mariss Jansons conducts the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and the Latvian soloist Iveta Apkalna, one of the greatest organists of our time. In Symphony No. 3 - also known as the Symphony for Organ from 1886 - the organ and symphonic orchestra blend brilliantly, leading to Saint-Saëns' declaration: "I gave myself body and soul. Never again will I create such a work." Poulenc's Concerto, on the other hand, was composed in 1938, at a time when concertos for organ were rare. These pieces pay tribute to Bach, but unlike this great Master of the Baroque, Poulenc wrote for larger organs with deeper sounds.