Saint-Saëns

Andris Nelsons, Gewandhausorchester, Gina Alice, Lang Lang

Released on 2/29/24 by Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
Main artists: Lang Lang Gina Alice Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Andris Nelsons
Genre: Classical

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The music of Camille Saint-Saëns and the other French composers featured here is a bit off the usual track for superstar pianist Lang Lang, and the album is oddly titled; only half the music on the double album is by Saint-Saëns. As it happens, Lang Lang is a pretty strong Saint-Saëns player, with clean articulation and an understanding of the composer's Gallic wit. The main feature is The Carnival of the Animals, and part of the album's goal appears to be to allow Lang Lang the opportunity to perform with his wife, pianist Gina Alice. This works out well; the two pianos are well-integrated, even if they tend to stand out too much from the orchestra. There are draws, too, on the second part of the program, performed solo by Lang Lang, except in the Petite Suite for piano four hands of Debussy (which does receive a very sharp performance). Lang Lang includes a string of pieces by recently rediscovered female French composers, and there is plenty more where these came from; all these composers need is strong star advocacy to find a permanent place in the repertory and, in the likes of Lili Boulanger's "D'un jardin claire," Lang Lang shows what is possible. Much of the rest of the second volume consists of arrangements of standard tunes like Delibes' "Flower Duet" by Emile Naoumoff, and it is delivered with Lang Lang's characteristic easy flair. Except in the works by women composers, little new ground is broken here, but the album should certainly satisfy Lang Lang fans; it landed on classical best-seller lists in early 2024.

© James Manheim /TiVo

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Saint-Saëns

Lang Lang

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Carnival of the Animals, R. 125 (Camille Saint-Saëns)

Ia. Introduction

Lang Lang

00:00:30

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, Composer - Lang Lang, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Christopher Alder, Producer, Editor, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel - Andris Nelsons, Conductor, MainArtist - Gewandhausorchester, Orchestra, MainArtist - Philip Krause, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Friedrich Brückner, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gina Alice, Piano, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Romualdas Urba, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Toni Schlesinger, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Alexander Weigel, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Amin Thainat, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel