Saint-Saens/ Jacobson/ Yamada - Poulenc & Widor

The monumental and colorful sounds of the organ and symphony orchestra blend together perfectly on this splendid recording of Saint-Saënss Organ Symphony, Poulencs Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani and the Toccata from Charles-Marie Widors Organ Symphony No. 5. The majestic organ chords at the start of the final movement of Saint-Saënss symphony equal the sublime effect of Beethovens choral conclusion of his Ninth, and have made it an audiences favourite straight from the moment of it's 1886 premiere. Poulencs organ concerto shows the composers retrospective side, while simultaneously offering flashes of his stylistic playfulness. After Poulencs serene concerto, Widors Toccata offers a vibrant conclusion to this programme. The Geneva Victoria Hall organ is played by Christopher Jacobson, who has already released a solo album with performances on the Aeolian Organ at Duke University Chapel, as well as a recording of Tyberg Masses with the South Dakota Chorale on PENTATONE. On this album, he works with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and conductor Kazuki Yamada, who have a vast PENTATONE discography.