LE CARNAVAL DES ANIMAUX

Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Emmanuel Pahud, Frank Braley – 2004

Saint-Saëns’ famous musical parade of exotic and unlikely beasts is performed in its original chamber version by a group of leading young French musicians – the brothers Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, flautist Emmanuel Pahud, clarinettist Paul Meyer and pianists Frank Braley and Michel Dalberto among them. They are joined by David Guerrier for the mischievous and curiously-scored Septet, which adds a trumpet to a chamber line-up of strings and piano. Saint-Saëns’ interest in unusual combinations of tone-colours is also apparent in the Fantaisie for harp and violin, while the programme includes Georges Papin’s transcription for cello and piano of ‘Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix’ from Samson et Dalila.

01 / Introduction & marche royale du lion (Andante maestoso)    2:08
02 / Poules et coqs (Allegro moderato)    0:43
03 / Hémiones (animaux véloces) (Presto furioso)    0:36
04 / Tortues (Andante maestoso)    2:00
05 / L’éléphant (Allegro pomposo)    1:32
06 / Kangourous (Moderato)    0:53
07 / Aquarium (Andantino)    2:23
08 / Personnages à longues oreilles (Tempo ad libitum)    0:45
09 / Le coucou au fond des bois (Andante)    2:33
10 / Volière (Moderato grazioso)    1:07
11 / Pianistes (Allegro moderato)    1:20
12 / Fossiles (Allegro ridicolo)    1:16
13 / Le cygne (Andantino grazioso)    3:05
14 / Final (Molto allegro)    1:52
15 / Fantaisie pour violon & harpe op. 124    12:45
16 / Romance pour violoncelle & piano op. 36    3:20
17 / Prière pour violoncelle & piano op. 158    5:14
18 / Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix’ extract from Samson & Dalila    2:48

Septet in E flat Op. 65
19 / Préambule : allegro moderato    4:07
20 / Menuet: Tempo di minuetto moderato    4:09
21 / Intermède : andante    4:12
22 / Gavotte & Final : allegro non troppo    3:36