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Memories of Africa

Donald Macleod focuses on two rare and exotic musical impressions from Saint-Saens's trips to North Africa, plus a virtuoso showpiece for the harp.

The composer's exotic musical impressions of North Africa. Plus, a virtuoso showpiece for the harp.

Camille Saint-Saëns reached the pinnacle of his career in 1886, when both his famous "Carnival of the Animals" and his "Organ" Symphony were first performed. He was 51 ? and yet he'd live on for a further three-and-a-half decades, well into the age of Schoenberg, Stravinsky and Poulenc. His late works have often been unfairly neglected ? seen as 'out of time' in a thrusting new century. This week, Donald Macleod explores the charming and eccentric variety of pieces Saint-Saëns left behind from the last decades of his life.

Saint-Saëns was an avid traveller, and particularly loved spending time under the warm sunshine, blue skies and exotic locales of North Africa. Today, Donald Macleod introduces two rare musical impressions of the composer's travels, plus a dazzling virtuoso showpiece for solo harp.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    Ascanio La Chanson De Scozzone

    Singer: Régine Crespin. Orchestra: Suisse Romande Orchestra. Conductor: Alain Lombard.
    • DECCA ORIGINALS: E4758243.
    • 4.
  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    Souvenir d'Ismailia, Op.100

    Performer: Marylène Dosse.
    • VOX:CD5X3607.
    • 1.
  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    Piano Trio no.2 in E Minor, Op.92: II. Allegretto

    Ensemble: The Florestan Trio.
    • HYPERION CFA67538.
    • 6.
  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    Fantaisie, Op.95

    Performer: Frederique Cambreling.
    • ADDA: 581146.
    • 1.
  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    The Elephant; The Kangaroo - Carnival Of The Animals

    Performer: Leonid Hambro. Performer: Jascha Zayde. Orchestra: André Kostelanetz and His Orchestra. Conductor: André Kostelanetz.
    • PHILIPS: NBR6001.
    • 1.
  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    Sarabande Et Rigaudon, for orchestra, Op.93

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • CALA: CACAS40310.
    • 9-10.
  • Camille Saintâ€Saëns

    Africa, for piano and orchestra, Op.89

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough. Conductor: Sakari Oramo. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
    • HYPERION CDA 673312.
    • 8.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 26 Nov 2013 12:00
  • Tue 26 Nov 2013 18:00

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