Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 "Organ" / Poulenc: Organ Concerto / Barber: Toccata Festiva [SACD]

1	Toccata Festiva for organ
2	Concerto for organ, strin
3	Concerto for organ, strin
4	Concerto for organ, strin
5	Concerto for organ, strin
6	Concerto for organ, strin
7	Concerto for organ, strin
8	Concerto for organ, strin
9	Symphony No. 3 in C minor
10	Symphony No. 3 in C minor
11	Symphony No. 3 in C minor
12	Symphony No. 3 in C minor
Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 "Organ" / Poulenc: Organ Concerto / Barber: Toccata Festiva [SACD]
1.	Toccata Festiva for organ & orchestra, Op. 36 15:49
	Composed by Samuel Barber
	Conducted by Christoph Eschenbach
	Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra, Olivier Latry and Olivier Latry
2.	Concerto for organ, strings & timpani in G minor, FP 93 25:13
	Composed by Francis Poulenc
	Conducted by Christoph Eschenbach
	Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra, Olivier Latry and Olivier Latry
3.	Symphony No. 3 in C minor ("Organ"), Op. 78 38:01
	Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns
	Conducted by Christoph Eschenbach
	Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra, Olivier Latry and Olivier Latry

All Music Guide

Pairing Camille Saint-Saëns' "Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Organ," and Francis Poulenc's "Concerto for organ, strings, and timpani in G minor" is common enough in practice, but the growing popularity of Samuel Barber's "Toccata Festiva for organ and orchestra, Op. 36," may signal a change from the usual way of programming these works. The arrangement on this splendid release from Ondine seems ideal, starting with the Barber work, which provides a rousing opening, and then continuing on to Poulenc's darkly scored, brooding concerto and Saint-Saëns' brilliantly scored symphony. Christoph Eschenbach led the Philadelphia Orchestra in these exciting performances at Verizon Hall in May 2006 before a live audience, and Olivier Latry, organist of Notre Dame de Paris, played the 100-stop Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ with admirable skill and subtlety. Because this SACD offers impressive 5.0 surround sound and presents the organ and orchestra with sensational timbres and finely shaded dynamics, it's tempting to think that the greatest attention was paid to making this album a showcase for audio buffs; however, the clarity of tone and sensitivity of expression that come from Latry, Eschenbach, and the Philadelphians demonstrate a strong commitment to the music that belies a purely technical approach and it's hard to imagine how these excellent interpretations could ever be surpassed in technique or feeling. Highly recommended. Blair Sanderson

Philadelphia Inquirer

1/2 Just on the basis of the Saint-Saens symphony, this disc is among the best out there. David Patrick Stearns

BBC Online

As a record of a great occasion it’s a winner.... I will be filing this mentally with a small pile of discs I reach for when I’m asked how much difference SACD and surround sound can make. Andrew McGregor

Newark Star-Ledger

[The Philadelphia Orchestra's] best recording in decades.... The sound is vivid and visceral. Bradley Bambarger

The Guardian

Saint-Saëns's Third Symphony [is] conducted with such majestic fury by Christoph Eschenbach it takes your breath away.... Exhilarating stuff. Tim Ashley

Time Out Chicago

The orchestra is in glorious form, with rich strings and a ringing brass section, and it’s a brazen and gaudy treat to hear Eschenbach spur them on. Marc Geelhoed