This album presents a selection of Saint-Saëns’s incidental music and music from his operas. From Samson et Dalila – the only one of Saint-Saëns’s operas to remain in the repertory – we hear two memorable and adrenalin-fuelled dances including the famous Bacchanale. Henry VIII drew from the composer music of regal solemnity with plenty of colourful scoring, praised by Gounod. The lukewarm reception to Étienne Marcel came as a bitter disappointment to Saint-Saëns but the customary ballet includes a strong element of delightful 14th-century pastiche. The incidental music to the play Parysatis received tumultuous acclaim at its premiere in 1902 and includes the delightful Airs de ballet flecked by the use of crotales (antique finger-cymbals).

Jun Märkl is known for his refined and idiomatic explorations of French orchestral music. His Naxos discography include the 9-disc Debussy set on 8509002, a MusicWeb International nominee for Recording of the Year. International Record Review commented: ‘It’s a fascinating and extensive collection that I recommend both to collectors who want to explore some of the rarities and also to anyone wanting to hear Märkl’s impressively plated and imaginatively conducted performances of the major works.’

The album is latest in Märkl’s cycle of Saint-Saëns’s orchestral works, that started with the Symphonic Poems on Naxos 8573745: ‘Jun Märkl has led another excellent performance of French music … All the performances are taut, vivid, full of energy and colour, and played with enthusiasm.’ (American Record Guide)

Succeeding volumes include the Suite algérienne and Suite in D minor, op.16bis (with cellist Guillermo Pastrana) on Naxos 8573732, and the rarely performed ballet from Ascanio and other overtures (8574033), the latter being an AllMusic.com Editor’s Choice: ‘Märkl delivers so well that the listener’s mind may well conjure dancers cascading across the stage.’ Saint-Saëns’s music for wind ensemble is available on Naxos 8574234.