Le Carnaval des animaux

​Camille Saint-Saens composed The Carnival of Animals, a 25 minutes humorous musical suite of fourteen movements, in 1886; each representing a different animal. It was written for two pianos and chamber ensemble. Its first performance was at a private concert given by the cellist Charles Lebouc. Saint-Saens prohibited any public performances of the work during his lifetime, as he thought that its frivolity might damage his standing as a serious composer. It remained unpublished until 1922, a year after his death. The first public performance was given by the Concerts Colonne, conducted by Gabriel Pierne on 25 February 1922. It was rapturously received and has become Saint-Saens’ best-known work.

Recommended albums are:

Le Carnaval des Animaux, Renaud Capuçon (violin), Gautier Capuçon (cello), Frank Braley (piano), Michel Dalberto (piano), Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Paul Meyer (clarinet), David Guerrier (trumpet), Marie-Pierre Langlamet (harp), Béatrice Muthelet (viola), Esther Hoppe (violin), Janne Saksala (double bass), Florent Jodelet (percussion). Release Date: 6 Oct 2003. Label: Erato.

Saint-Saens, Symphonic Poems, Le Carnaval des Animaux, L’Assassinat du Duc de Guise, Francois-Xavier Roth and Les Siecles. Release Date: 17 Nov 2023. Label: Harmonia Mundi.

​Saint-Saens, Organ Symphony & Carnival of the Animals, Antonio Pappano and Martha Argerich (piano), Antonio Pappano (piano), with Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Release Date: 1 Sept 2017. Label: Warner Classics.

​Saint-Saens, Cello Concertos, The Carnival of the Animals, Africa, Wedding Cake, Neeme Jarvi and Truls Mørk (cello), Louis Lortie (piano), Hélène Mercier (piano) & Alasdair Malloy (glass harmonica), with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Release Date: 31 Dec 2015. Label: Chandos.

​Reference: Galaxy Music Notes. (2024). Story Behind “The Carnival of the Animals” by Saint-Saens. USA; Authors. https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/story-behind-the-carnival-of-the-animals-by-saint-saens