01. - 14. Camille Saint-Saens - Le Carnaval des animaux 'Carnival of the Animals' * [22'11]
15. - 19. Georges Bizet - Jeux d'enfants 'Children's Games', op.22 [11'23]
20. - 26. Maurice Ravel - Ma Mère l'Oye 'Mother Goose'. Complete Ballet [29'09]
*Julian Jacobson & Nigel Hutchinson- pianos with principals from the LSO: Ray Adams- cello, Andrew Marriner- clarinet, Paul Edmund Davies- flute, Paul Marrion- double-bass, Ray Northcott- percussion, Alexander Barantschik & Ashley Arbuckle- violins and Alexander Taylor- viola; London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth.
LSO Live LSO1157 (recorded January 1989; this digital issue 2005)
(digital download, flacs, cover scan only)
Recording venue: Abbey Road, No. 1 Studio, London
Recording engineer & Producer: unknown
The Gramophone magazine's 'Collection' feature in the October 2019 issue, features an excellent survey by Jeremy Nicholas of recordings of Saint-Saens'Carnival of the Animals. Among his four top picks is this recording under Barry Wordsworth - narrowly beaten to first choice (also in the chamber version) by Erato's recording with Gautier Capucon and friends - which I have not heard.
I purchased this disc back when it was first released by IMP/Pickwick in 1989 and it was a firm favourite. But the CD unfortunately went AWOL during a house move - along with a number of other discs. Seeking to replace it, I was surprised to discover that it had transferred to the LSO Live label for digital release - particularly as this is definitely a studio recording and not 'live' and we are spared the Barbican acoustic. LSO Live seem not to acknowledge its existence and don't offer it for download. The IMP/Pickwick release had a much more attractive cover and came with a booklet, of course. LSO Live give a cover image only. I see that the recording was also re-issued on a number of other IMP/Pickwick-related labels before LSO Live.
This release is just as attractive for the performances of the other two works. Although "child" related in their titles, neither is aimed at children; as the Saint-Saens wasn't until unfortunate spoken rhymes were added. The longest work in the collection, Mother Goose, is performed in it's complete ballet version and not just the suite. Although this has become more common nowadays, it wasn't at the time of this excellent recording.
For those who don't have access to the magazine, I have included a PDF of Jeremy Nicholas' well-considered and witty survey of the Saint-Saens in this download.
Download from MEGA.
15. - 19. Georges Bizet - Jeux d'enfants 'Children's Games', op.22 [11'23]
20. - 26. Maurice Ravel - Ma Mère l'Oye 'Mother Goose'. Complete Ballet [29'09]
*Julian Jacobson & Nigel Hutchinson- pianos with principals from the LSO: Ray Adams- cello, Andrew Marriner- clarinet, Paul Edmund Davies- flute, Paul Marrion- double-bass, Ray Northcott- percussion, Alexander Barantschik & Ashley Arbuckle- violins and Alexander Taylor- viola; London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth.
LSO Live LSO1157 (recorded January 1989; this digital issue 2005)
(digital download, flacs, cover scan only)
Recording venue: Abbey Road, No. 1 Studio, London
Recording engineer & Producer: unknown
The Gramophone magazine's 'Collection' feature in the October 2019 issue, features an excellent survey by Jeremy Nicholas of recordings of Saint-Saens'Carnival of the Animals. Among his four top picks is this recording under Barry Wordsworth - narrowly beaten to first choice (also in the chamber version) by Erato's recording with Gautier Capucon and friends - which I have not heard.
I purchased this disc back when it was first released by IMP/Pickwick in 1989 and it was a firm favourite. But the CD unfortunately went AWOL during a house move - along with a number of other discs. Seeking to replace it, I was surprised to discover that it had transferred to the LSO Live label for digital release - particularly as this is definitely a studio recording and not 'live' and we are spared the Barbican acoustic. LSO Live seem not to acknowledge its existence and don't offer it for download. The IMP/Pickwick release had a much more attractive cover and came with a booklet, of course. LSO Live give a cover image only. I see that the recording was also re-issued on a number of other IMP/Pickwick-related labels before LSO Live.
This release is just as attractive for the performances of the other two works. Although "child" related in their titles, neither is aimed at children; as the Saint-Saens wasn't until unfortunate spoken rhymes were added. The longest work in the collection, Mother Goose, is performed in it's complete ballet version and not just the suite. Although this has become more common nowadays, it wasn't at the time of this excellent recording.
For those who don't have access to the magazine, I have included a PDF of Jeremy Nicholas' well-considered and witty survey of the Saint-Saens in this download.
Download from MEGA.
