Saint-Saëns: Symphony Urbs Roma; Symphony No. 3
Thierry Escaich (organ)
Jean-Jacques Kantorow / Liège Philharmonic (BIS)
(scroll down for English review)
Kantorow和列日愛樂的聖桑交響曲全集錄音去到第二集，又是完結篇，以《管風琴交響曲》配搭他在生前沒有出版的《羅馬城交響曲》（軌一至四）。此作寫於21歲，是《第一》及《第二》之間。它有此名稱，是因為聖桑是寫來參加一項作曲比賽，「羅馬城」是規定的主題。相信這個題目是希望參賽者寫出歌頌羅馬歷史的交響曲，聖桑獲勝，作品有被演奏過，但聖桑後來收回，作品在聖桑死後五十多年的1974年出版。
四個樂章，快板、諧謔曲、慢板、終曲。快板以莊嚴主題開始，然後進入活力的快板，很像孟德爾遜，尤其是同樣有莊嚴主題的《第五交響曲》「宗教改革」。此錄音不但省略了第一樂章的提示部重覆，連第二樂章接近三分二的重覆也沒有奏，我歡迎這個決定，除了是一隻CD裝不下的現實考慮，更為現實的是不值得重覆。
我雖然覺得這首交響曲是聖桑五首交響曲中最差的，但在作曲技術上卻非常成熟，也有夠搶耳的旋律及主題，或許這就是聖桑贏得比賽的原因。毋須寫出曠世名作，但要展示到自己是成熟、懂得甚麼應做甚麼不應做的作曲家。慢板是個葬禮進行曲，可以理解成悼念古羅馬戰士，甚至是古羅馬的滅亡。終曲很奇怪不是雄糾糾的快板，倒是非常祥和，或者象徵了古羅馬隨歷史而去？
用最差配最受歡迎的《管風琴交響曲》是精明決定。上一集（A大調、《第一》、《第三》）的演奏水平我都滿意，但《管風琴》難免要提高要求。不過我對此曲卻又真的沒幾多要求，橫豎最後都是靠管風琴出來大殺四方，而且我也說不出有哪個錄音我是特別喜歡、完全突破想像的。BIS的錄音水平有信心保證，儘管在今時今日到處都是外判給人做。喜歡第一集的朋友，第二集可以繼續聽，試聽的連結已有，買碟與否就自己決定。
This is the second and final volume of Kantorow’s Saint-Saëns symphony cycle with the Liège Philharmonic. The Urbs Roma Symphony (tracks 1-4) was written between the First and Second, and was an entry for a composition competition. Rome was the specified topic, obviously about the glorious Rome of ancient times. Saint-Saëns won the competition and the symphony was duly performed. Saint-Saëns later withdrew it and it remained unpublished until 1974.
The four movements are allegro, scherzo, adagio and finale. The first movement opened with a solemn introduction which leads to an energetic allegro. The writing was quite Mendelssohn, in particular the Reformation Symphony. This recording omitted the first movement exposition repeat, and the second movement repeat that is virtually two-thirds of the movement. I welcome this decision, which was obviously done to accommodate the two symphonies on one CD, because those repeats aren’t worth a second listen.
Out of the five Saint-Saëns symphonies I like this the least. But in terms of composition technique it was very mature, in the sense Saint-Saëns proved he knew what to do as an adept composer, though not necessarily a groundbreaking one. The adagio is a funeral march which might be thought of as lamenting departed heroes or even the glorious ancient Rome. Quite unexpectedly, the finale is very peaceful, as if history has carried Rome away on a pair of wings.
I was happy with the playing on the previous volume, but a warhorse like the Organ Symphony needed to be listened with higher standards. Despite saying that, I hardly have any expectation on this symphony, as the organ simply blasted away at the end. And I can’t really name one recording of it that I consider the standard. BIS’ engineering has been consistently superb, although nowadays most assignments are done by freelancers. Those who enjoyed volume one might follow up on this last volume.