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Naxos

Britten: Young Person's Guide; Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals; Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf

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Details

Composer
PROKOFIEV/BRITTEN
Artist
Pet, Jeremy, Toperczer, Ondrej, Nicholas, Marián, Lenárd, Lapšanský
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Oct 30, 1991
Catalog #
8550499
UPC
730099549929

About

The French composer Camille Saint-Saëns was prolific and lived a long time, although by the time of his death in 1921 music had changed beyond anything he could have conceived. He was a gifted pianist and, in common with many other well known French composers, found employment and distinction as organist at one of the principal churches in Paris. The popular Carnival of the Animals, described as A Zoological Fantasy, was written in 1886, originally for two pianos and a small chamber orchestra, to celebrate that year's carnival. The composer forbade further performances of this occasional music, except for The Swan, which enjoyed immediate and irresistible popularity.

The Soviet composer Sergey Prokofiev wrote his Peter and the Wolf in 1936 to introduce to children the instruments of the orchestra. He had taken his two sons to see performances at the Moscow Children's Music Theatre and this had suggested to him the possibility of a composition of this kind. The boy Peter, represented by the strings, is playing in the meadow, forbidden territory. A bird, shown by the flute, sings in a tree: a duck, the oboe, swims in the pond, and a cat, the clarinet, comes onto the scene, sending the bird up to a higher branch. Peter's grandfather, the bassoon, warns the boy not to venture out, but meanwhile a wolf, the French horns, comes into the meadow, 
and adventures ensue with spoken narration.


Ten years later, in 1946, the English composer Benjamin Britten was asked to write music for an educational film introducing the instruments of the orchestra. For the purpose he chose a theme by the great 17th century English composer Henry Purcell and wrote a set of variations, each of which shows the characteristics of a particular instrument or group of instruments. The alternative title of the work, Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell, is an exact description. The other title, The Young Person's Guide to the 
Orchestra, makes fun of the titles much favored by writers of moral tales in the 19th century, providing "young persons" with advice on how to regulate every aspect of their lives. At the most exciting part of the concluding fugue, the brass instruments play again the original theme, leading to a grand conclusion. 

Tracklist 41 tracks

  1. 1 I. Introduction et marche royale du lion (Introduction and Royal March of the Lion) 02:25
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Introduction et marche royale du lion (Introduction and Royal March of the Lion)
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  2. 2 II. Poules et Coqs (Hens and Cockerels) 00:59
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Poules et Coqs (Hens and Cockerels)
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  3. 3 III. Hemiones (Wild Asses) 00:41
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Hemiones (Wild Asses)
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  4. 4 IV. Tortues (Tortoises) 02:14
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Tortues (Tortoises)
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  5. 5 V. L'Elephant (The Elephant) 01:34
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. L'Elephant (The Elephant)
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  6. 6 VI. Kangourous (Kangaroos) 00:56
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Kangourous (Kangaroos)
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  7. 7 VII. Aquarium (Aquarium) 02:22
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Aquarium (Aquarium)
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  8. 8 VIII. Personnages a longues oreilles (People with Long Ears) 00:51
    Track
    8
    Title
    VIII. Personnages a longues oreilles (People with Long Ears)
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  9. 9 IX. Le Coucou au fond des bois (The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods) 01:49
    Track
    9
    Title
    IX. Le Coucou au fond des bois (The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods)
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  10. 10 X. Voliere (Aviary) 01:16
    Track
    10
    Title
    X. Voliere (Aviary)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  11. 11 XI. Pianistes (Pianists) 01:52
    Track
    11
    Title
    XI. Pianistes (Pianists)
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  12. 12 XII. Fossiles (Fossils) 01:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    XII. Fossiles (Fossils)
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  13. 13 XIII. Le Cygne (The Swan) 03:06
    Track
    13
    Title
    XIII. Le Cygne (The Swan)
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  14. 14 XIV. Finale 02:19
    Track
    14
    Title
    XIV. Finale
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Camille Saint-Saëns
    Performer
    Peter Toperczer, Marián Lapšanský
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  15. 15 I. Peter in the Meadow 01:00
    Track
    15
    Title
    I. Peter in the Meadow
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  16. 16 II. The Bird 01:26
    Track
    16
    Title
    II. The Bird
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  17. 17 III. The Duck 01:59
    Track
    17
    Title
    III. The Duck
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  18. 18 IV. The Cat 01:51
    Track
    18
    Title
    IV. The Cat
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  19. 19 V. Grandfather 00:45
    Track
    19
    Title
    V. Grandfather
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  20. 20 VI. Peter Does Not Listen 00:27
    Track
    20
    Title
    VI. Peter Does Not Listen
    Duration
    00:27
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  21. 21 VII. Grandfather Takes Peter Home 00:31
    Track
    21
    Title
    VII. Grandfather Takes Peter Home
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  22. 22 VIII. The Wolf 01:00
    Track
    22
    Title
    VIII. The Wolf
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  23. 23 IX. The Cat Climbs the Tree 00:25
    Track
    23
    Title
    IX. The Cat Climbs the Tree
    Duration
    00:25
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  24. 24 X. The Duck Jumps Out the Pond 00:32
    Track
    24
    Title
    X. The Duck Jumps Out the Pond
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  25. 25 XI. The Wolf Swallows the Duck 00:45
    Track
    25
    Title
    XI. The Wolf Swallows the Duck
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  26. 26 XII. The Cat and the Bird in the Trees 00:44
    Track
    26
    Title
    XII. The Cat and the Bird in the Trees
    Duration
    00:44
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  27. 27 XIII. The Wolf Prowls in Wait 00:38
    Track
    27
    Title
    XIII. The Wolf Prowls in Wait
    Duration
    00:38
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  28. 28 XIV. Peter Takes a Rope and Climbs the Tree 00:51
    Track
    28
    Title
    XIV. Peter Takes a Rope and Climbs the Tree
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  29. 29 XV. He Tells the Bird to Distract the Wolf 01:02
    Track
    29
    Title
    XV. He Tells the Bird to Distract the Wolf
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  30. 30 XVI. Peter Catches the Wolf with a Lasso 00:26
    Track
    30
    Title
    XVI. Peter Catches the Wolf with a Lasso
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  31. 31 XVII. The Wolf Tries to Escape 01:34
    Track
    31
    Title
    XVII. The Wolf Tries to Escape
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  32. 32 XVIII. The Hunters Approach with Their Guns 01:27
    Track
    32
    Title
    XVIII. The Hunters Approach with Their Guns
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  33. 33 XIX. Peter Suggests They All Take the Wolf to the Zoo 00:34
    Track
    33
    Title
    XIX. Peter Suggests They All Take the Wolf to the Zoo
    Duration
    00:34
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  34. 34 XX. They All March Together, Peter, Then the Hunters with the Wolf 02:14
    Track
    34
    Title
    XX. They All March Together, Peter, Then the Hunters with the Wolf
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  35. 35 XXI. And after Them Grandfather, Complaining, and the Cat 02:19
    Track
    35
    Title
    XXI. And after Them Grandfather, Complaining, and the Cat
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Jeremy Nicholas
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  36. 36 I. Theme 02:04
    Track
    36
    Title
    I. Theme
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  37. 37 II. Variations (Woodwind) 02:52
    Track
    37
    Title
    II. Variations (Woodwind)
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  38. 38 III. Variations (Strings) 04:42
    Track
    38
    Title
    III. Variations (Strings)
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  39. 39 IV. Variations (Brass) 02:36
    Track
    39
    Title
    IV. Variations (Brass)
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  40. 40 V. Variations (Percussion) 02:00
    Track
    40
    Title
    V. Variations (Percussion)
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd
  41. 41 VI. Fugue 03:04
    Track
    41
    Title
    VI. Fugue
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Ensemble
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Ondrej Lenárd