Moscow Symphony Orchestra Shek - Le Pavillon D'armide - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Saint-Saëns' operatic works contain instrumental music of vivacity and charm but have been undeservedly overlooked. Ascanio contains a substantial and elaborate divertissement that fellow composer Reynaldo Hahn termed 'the entire Renaissance in a few pages'. Les Barbares, a tale of conquest and revenge, includes a vivid Prologue and joyful ballet, while La Princesse jaune with it's pentatonic writing, and La Jota aragonese laced with Spanish vitality, show the composer at his most generously carefree. Jun Markl is a highly-respected interpreter of core Germanic repertoire and has become known for his refined and idiomatic explorations of the French Impressionists. His long-standing relationships with the state operas of Vienna, Berlin and Munich, the Semperoper Dresden and the Metropolitan Opera have been complemented by his music directorships of the Orchestre National de Lyon and the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. In recognition of his achievements in Lyon, he was honoured in 2012 with the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Märkl has an extensive discography - among the over 50 albums he has recorded are the complete Schumann symphonies, works by Mendelssohn and Wagner, Ravel, Messiaen, and a highly-acclaimed Debussy set with the Orchestre National de Lyon. He is currently working on a cycle of works by Saint-Saëns and Hosokawa. Album Tracks 1. Ascanio - Ballet Act III (1887-88) 2. Les Barbares - Prologue (1901) 3. La Jota Aragonese - Overture (1880) 4. Andromaque - Act IV Prélude (1902) 5. Andromaque - Overture (1902) 6. La Princesse Jaune - Overture (1871-72) 7. Ouverture D'un Opéra-Comique Inachevé (1854) 8. Ascanio

Album Tracks 1. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 1. Allegro Molto Moderato, Ma Agitato 2. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Thema. Tranquillo 3. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Variation 1. Andante Sostenuto 4. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Variation 2. Poco Più Mosso 5. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Variation 3. Alla Marcia 6. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Variation 4. Presto 7. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Variation 5. Sostenuto 8. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 2. Variationen Über Ein Altes Tessinisches Drei-Königslied. Variation 6. Adagio Affettuoso 9. Symphony No. 3 in D minor 3. Allegro Non Troppo

Mario Pilati was a leading member of the Italian generation of composers born around the turn of the 20th century. His love of the Baroque can be felt in the sunny and joyful immediacy of Preludio, aria e tarantella, originally conceived for violin and piano. His other abiding passion was for the folk traditions of his native country, exemplified by his beautiful settings of Quattro canzoni popolari italiane- light, elegant, and suffused with subtle humor- and the delightful Bagatelles. In the strikingly inventive 'Divertimento' for brass ensemble, he draws on cinema, jazz and the vibrancy of Neapolitan street life. Pilati's Concerto for Orchestra and Suite for Strings and Piano can also be heard on Naxos. Album Tracks 1. Preludio, aria e tarantella for large orchestra~Preludio 2. Preludio, aria e tarantella for large orchestra~Aria 3. Preludio, aria e tarantella for large orchestra~Tarantella 4. Quattro canzoni popolari italiane (Four Italian Folk Songs) for small orchestra~Canzone a ballo 5. Quattro canzoni popolari italiane (Four Italian Folk Songs) for small orchestra~Filastrocca con variazioni 6. Quattro canzoni popolari italiane (Four Italian Folk Songs) for small orchestra~Ritorno dalla mietitura 7. Quattro canzoni popolari italiane (Four Italian Folk Songs) for small orchestra~L'addio 8. Bagatelles for chamber orchestra~Marcia 9. Bagatelles for chamber orchestra~Ninna nanna 10. Bagatelles for chamber orchestra~Duetto (Contrasto rusticano) 11. Bagatelles for chamber orchestra~Rondò-Valzer 12. Bagatelles for chamber orchestra~Fine 13. Divertimento for brass ensemble~Marcia 14. Divertimento for brass ensemble~Romanza 15. Divertimento for brass ensemble~Mazurka 16. Divertimento for brass ensemble~Fanfara