Saint-Saëns: Organ Symphony and Carnival of the Animals

Martha Argerich and Antonio Pappano (as pianist rather than conductor) lead the fun in Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals with members of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. The entire orchestra assembles under Pappano’s baton for another of Saint-Saëns’ most celebrated works, the magnificent ‘Organ’ Symphony, No 3.

The pianists are perhaps the most exotic of all the creatures in the Carnival of the Animals. A very rare and treasurable pairing has been made by Warner Classics for this new recording of Saint-Saëns’ enchantingly witty suite: Martha Argerich, often described as the world’s finest example of the pianist species, and Antonio Pappano, a particularly fine specimen of the conductor-pianist.

"Pappano's Rome coupling of Saint-Saëns's most popular symphonic work, the Organ Symphony, with one of Argerich's party pieces, has obvious star allure... Pappano leads soloists from his Santa Cecilia band in a sizzling, colourful account." - The Sunday Times, Album of the Week.