Conductor Ivan Anguélov
slovak radio-symphony orchestra Bratislava

Two early symphonic works by two geniuses of the French romantic era

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS wrote his Symphony No.1 in E flat major, Op.2, at the age of eighteen. Although this is a work of early youth, the hand of a future musical genius is clearly discernible behind the fruitful influences of early German romantic music - Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn. This FIRST SYMPHONY was announced on its first performance in Paris in 1853 as the work of an anonymous German composer. Great public acclaim, and the spontaneous recognition by composers like Gounod and Berlioz opened the way to great popularity in France for the young Saint-Saens.

It is a mistake to think of GEORGES BIZET, 'the composer of Carmen', as beeing above all an opera composer. The symphonic works he produced in his short life (he was only 26 when he died) reveal the sure hand of an orchestral master. His C major Symphony, 'Roma', was written under the influence of his three-year residency in Rome, from 1857-60. Of his concept to dedicate a symphony to Italy he wrote:"I already have in my head sketches for a symphony, each of whose movements will be dedicated to an Italian city - Rome, Florence Venice, Naples..." The realisation of the work, however, was to occupy several years. Its Paris premiere in 1869 was a resounding success.

When at a later date a youthful symphony by Bizet, also in C major, was discovered, it was decided, probably to make clear the difference between the two works, that Roma should be renamed a 'Symphonic Suite'. Over the course of the following years we find ROMA described in various musical dictionaries as 'Suite No. 3' - on the model of the suites from 'Carmen' and 'L'Arlesienne'. This is a major error, since it is indubitably a symphony in four movements, having nothing in common with the musical form of a suite.

Bizet's symphonic language is marked by elegant melody and rich harmonies. His orchestration is brilliant , and can bear comparison with that of great masters like Berlioz and Ravel.

Sadly, Bizet's ROMA symphony and Saint-Saens's SYMPHONY NO. 1 are today very seldom performed, and I very much hope that our recording may lead to these wonderfully beautiful composition making much more frequent appearances in future concert programmes.

IVAN ANGUÉLOV

Translation:Mike Yarrow

"Musik & Theater"

The initiative came from the Slovakian Radio-orchestra of Bratislava under its conductor Ivan Anguélov. The Slovakians already made a good impression at the Arte Nova Label by their sensitive accompaniment of opera recitals. Here, they convince by their untensely fresh, engaged seizure on these juvenile symphonies, by their ideal culture of sound.

"Tagesspiegel Berlin"

With the Slovakian Radio-Orchestra, Ivan Anguélov proves that Georges Bizet and Camille Saint-Saens also made a contribution to this genre worth hearing. Two new discoveries, which sound authentically French under Anguélovs’ circumspect musical direction – as if it were a mere childs’ play

"Udo Klebes, Der neue Merker"

With his natural sensitivity for any kind of composition, Ivan Anguélov is again a guarantee for bustling, musical theatre. The fact that he can transmit this to the orchestra, is indicative of the ideal contact between the conductor and the musicians.