Search - Saint-Saens, Previn, Pittsburgh Symphony Orch :: Carnival of the Animals / Mother Goose

A unique and ethereal account.

Timothy Mikolay | Pittsburgh, PA | 07/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard the Pittsburgh Orchestra live and on disc and aside from their thrilling and passionate performance of Mahler's 6th back in May '92 at Heinz Hall under Maazel, I am convinced that this Saint-Saens/Ravel recording is their greatest performance, if not one of their greatest.The tenderness with which the players execute their passages in the Ravel is simply beautiful. The interludes between the movements convey such a flow as to simulate a soft, seemingly endless spring breeze. Previn and the Pittsburgh's reading leaves me breathless every time I listen to it, even though I never get the feeling that I can't breathe with the music. There is a musical flow and grace this session produced that always seems to be lacking on other discs, which sound clunky and jointed. The recording was made in 1980 and I have not heard a performance comparable to this, and probably never will.The Saint-Saens reading is joyful and as "animalistic" as one can get. The Aquarium is in my opinion, the most beautiful on record. The pianists play very well and also play musically. Too many pianists play Saint-Saen's Carnival like warm-ups. This Carnival is a "must experience" recording.This is a timeless and precious disc to listen to."