Saint-Saens' Popular Menagerie

[VIDEO IS DEAD] I don't know why, but I seem to be on a roll with French composers recently (Vincent d'Indy, Paul Dukas), so why stop now. Camille Saint-Saens' birthday is tomorrow. He was born on October 9, 1835 and lived until 1921, a period of remarkable change in music history and history, period. When his career began, Chopin and Mendelssohn were still active, and when he died, the Jazz Age was in full swing. It's interesting that one of Saint-Saens' most popular works, The Carnival of the Animals, wasn't publicly performed until after his death. Apparently he felt it was too frivolous and might hurt his reputation as a "serious" composer if it were published during his lifetime (only The Swan was allowed public performances). Well, he needn't have worried. This witty suite for two pianos and small orchestra has delighted countless listeners of all ages since the animals in this zoological fantasy were turned loose in the imagination of all who hear this "salute to feathers, fur and fins," in the words of Ogden Nash. Here's a sampling. Enjoy: [youtube 490 344] --John Rittmeyer