The symphony has been fertile ground for composers throughout history and around the world. This week, we’ll follow its development in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Your listeners will enjoy Georges Bizet’s well-liked Symphony in C through to the lesser-known Symphony in C of Paul Dukas.
Symphony, Part 06: French Symphonies
Eiffel Tower with a open sky
Playlist
Episode 1
Haydn, Joseph: Symphony No. 7 in C, Le Midi (excerpt)
English Concert/Trevor Pinnock
Symphonies “Le Matin – Le Midi – Le Soir”
Archiv 423098
0:20
Beethoven, Ludwig Van: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Choral (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti
The Nine Symphonies
London 430400
0:10
Schubert, Franz: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat (excerpt)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Claudio Abbado
Symphonien Nos. 1 & 2
DG 423652
0:21
Brahms, Johannes: Symphony No. 1 in C minor (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmonic/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
The Symphonies / Haydn Variations / Academic Festival Overture / Tragic Overture
Teldec 13136
0:17
Spontini, Gaspare: “La Vestale Allegretto Grazioso” (excerpt)
Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra/Riccardo Muti
La Vestale
Sony 66357
0:48
Beethoven, Ludwig Van: Symphony No. 8 (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti
The Nine Symphonies
Decca 430400
0:30
Berlioz, Hector: Symphonie Fantastique (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
Sony 60968
0:38
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony in A
I. Poco adagio – Allegro vivace (excerpt)
Orchestre National De L’ORTF/Jean Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
2:09
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No. 1 in E Flat, Op. 2
I Adagio Allegro II. Marche-Scherzo. Allegretto scherzando
Orchestre National De L’ORTF/Jean Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
13:25
Gounod, Charles: Symphony No. 1 in D
I. Allegro molto
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood
Bizet: L’Arlésienne • Gounod: Petite Symphonie / Symphony No.1
Decca 430231
6:25
Bizet, Georges: Symphony in C
I. Allegro vivo
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff
Symphonies Nos. 1
Teldec 77309
7:17
Gounod, Charles: Symphony No. 1 in D
II. Allegretto moderato (excerpt)
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hogwood
Bizet: L’Arlésienne • Gounod: Petite Symphonie / Symphony No.1
Decca 430231
0:37
Bizet, Georges: Symphony in C
II. Andante – Adagio, IV. Finale – Allegro vivace
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra/Hugh Wolff
Symphonies Nos. 1
Teldec 77309
16:02
Episode 2
Gounod, Charles: Petite Symphonie
IV. Finale. Allegretto
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood
Bizet: L’Arlésienne • Gounod: Petite Symphonie / Symphony No.1
Lon 430231
0:38
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No. 2 in A Minor
I. Allegro marcato — Allegro appassionato
Orchestre National De L’ORTF/Jean Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
7:05; 0:19
Hermann, Bernard: Vertigo Prelude (excerpt)
LA Philharmonic/Salonen
The Film Scores On Phase 4
Decca 485 1585
0:08
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony in F, “Urbs Roma”
I. Largo – Allegro (excerpt)
Orchestre National De L’ORTF/Jean Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
0:50
Bizet, Georges: Roma Symphonie
I. Andante tranquillo, leading to an Allegro agitato
Orchestre National De Lille/Jean-Claude Casadesus
Cantate: Clovis et Clotilde / Symphonie “Roma”
Erato 45016
11:08
Bizet, Georges: Roma Symphonie
III. Andante molto, IV. Allegro vivacissimo
Orchestre National De Lille/Jean-Claude Casadesus
Cantate: Clovis et Clotilde / Symphonie “Roma”
Erato 45016
13:47
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 55
IV. Prestissimo
Orchestre National De L’ORTF/Jean Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
7:15
Gounod, Charles: Petite Symphonie
I. Adagio – Allegro, IV. Finale. Allegretto
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood
Bizet: L’Arlésienne • Gounod: Petite Symphonie / Symphony No.1
Lon 430231
10:17
Gounod, Charles: Petite Symphonie
II. Andante cantabile (excerpt)
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra/Christopher Hogwood
Bizet: L’Arlésienne • Gounod: Petite Symphonie / Symphony No.1
Lon 430231
2:05
Episode 3
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 2 (excerpt)
Orchestre National De L’ORTF/Jean Martinon
Les 5 Symphonies
EMI 62643
1:06
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Organ (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmonic/James Levine
Symphony No.3 “Organ” / L’Apprenti Sorcier
DG 419617
1:32
d’Indy, Vincent: Symphony on a French Mountain Air, Op. 25
I. Assez lent – Modérément animé
Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy; Casadesus, piano
Casadesus Plays Franck, D’Indy, Casadesus
Sony 46730
10:42
Lalo, Edouard: Symphony in G minor
I. Andante—Allegro non troppo
Basel Symphony Orchestra/Giancarlo Andretta
Lalo: Symphony in G
CPO 999296
8:21
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Symphony No.3 in C minor, Organ, Op. 78
I. Adagio – Allegro moderato
III. Allegro moderato, IV. Pesto
Berlin Philharmonic/James Levine
Symphony No.3 “Organ” / L’Apprenti Sorcier
DG 419617
25:55
Lalo, Edouard: Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21
II. Scherzando: Allegro molto
Montreal Symphony Orchestra/Chales Dutoit; Joshua Bell, violin
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole / Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 • Introduction Et Rondo Capriccioso / Chausson: Poème / Massenet / Ravel / Sarasate / Ysaye
Decca 475 6706
4:27
Episode 4
Franck, César: Symphony in D minor
I. Lento – Allegro ma non troppo, II. Allegretto, III. Finale: Allegro non tropppo
Orchestre Des Champs-Elysées/Philippe Herreweghe
César Frank
Harmonia Mundi 901771
37:38
Chausson, Ernest: Symphony in B-flat Major, Op. 20
I. Lent – Allegro vivo
BBC Philharmonic/Yan Pascal Tortelier
Symphony in B Flat / La Te
Chandos 9650
12:01
Episode 5
Dukas, Paul: Symphony in C
III. Finale. Allegro spiritoso
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Yan Pascal Tortelier
The Essential Dukas
Chandos 24132
0:18; 11:16
d’Indy, Vincent: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 57
I. Extrêmement lent – Très vif
Monte Carlo Philharmonic/James De Priest
Symphony No. 2 = 2ème Symphonie / Souvenirs
Koch 7280
11:55
Roussel, Albert: Symphony No. 1, Op. 7, “Le Poéme de la forêt”
I. Forêt d’hiver – (attacca), II. Renouveau
Orchestre Philharmonique d’ Radio France/Marek Janowski
Complete Symphonies
RCA 62511
12:34
Roussel, Albert: Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42
III. Vivace, IV. allegro con spirito
Orchestre Philharmonique d’ Radio France/Janowski
Roussel – Complete Symphonies
RCA 62511
8:37
Roussel, Albert: Symphony No. 4
IV. Finale
Philharmonia Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan
Stravinsky · Strauss · Berlioz · Roussel · Balakirev
EMI 63316
4:02
