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Second attempt for this post (I sent it into the internet ether yesterday) Saint-Saens Organ Symphony

Posted by Chris from Lafayette on February 14, 2021 at 21:27:57:
You think of the Organ Symphony, and you think of the "big guns" of the "golden age of stereo" past: Munch and Paray.

I recently acquired a very different take on the work via an SACD the Pentatone label, with Kazuki Yamada and Ansermet's old orchestra, the OSR, and organist Christopher Jacobson. In contrast to the punch and the power of the Munch and Paray recordings, Yamada seems to be looking for something different: a lyrical envelopment, with maximum color and nuance, as well as striking inflections of the phrases. To me, Yamada's interpretation is a valid alternative to the usual way of performing this great work. The tonal quality of the different choirs of the orchestra is almost sensuously appealing in his performance, and the total corporate sound of the orchestra is irresistible, with Jacobson's registrations adding still another layer of exquisiteness to the proceedings. (And, no, the initial entrance of the organ in the finale will NOT launch you out of your seat!)

As it happens, Ansermet himself made a recording of the Organ Symphony, another "golden age" album which was overshadowed by the previously mentioned recordings. I've never heard the Ansermet performance myself, but it's certainly interesting how close Yamada's timings are to Ansermet's. And therein lies the problem, at least for a few listeners - there's one customer review on Amazon where the writer can hardly contain his dissatisfaction with Yamada's alleged "slow" tempos.

But just how slow ARE Yamada's tempos? I'm always happy to be of service, and (with the help of the timings of the movements of various performances shown on the Presto Classical site) I hereby present the following handy chart:

Not only is Ansermet just a bit slower than Yamada in all four mevements, but, in certain movements, there are some real slowpokes, such as Karajan in the slow movement, or Pretre in the finale.

There are also a couple of makeweights on this album: the Poulenc Concerto for Organ, Strings and Tympani, and the ever-popular (!) Widor Toccata. Our Amazon sourpuss poster is also bent out of shape at Jacobson's alleged "slow" tempo in the Toccata, but, BBC Music Magazine mentions that, in contrast to so many "sprint to the finish" performances of the work we've been hearing in recent years, Jacobson on this Pentatone recording actually takes Widor's indicated metronome mark (quarter note at 118) seriously! Oops! ;-)

Anyway, this is an absolutely beautiful recording, which may expand your ideas as to what is possible in the Symphony, even though it may not appeal to all types of listeners. It sure is beautiful though!