Saint-Saen composed 5 symphonies, but 2 were published posthumously, so the Symphony No. 3 is actually the last symphony he composed. Known as the ‘Organ’ symphony, it is the only one of the 5 symphonies that is really in the basic repertoire. However, there is quite a bit to like about the other 4, and worth a listen. The best classic performance is by Charles Munch and the Boston SO on an RCA Living Stereo issue, with a wonderful performance…
Currently I have two favorite versions of the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, one famous and one not so much. The Munch / Boston Symphony Orchestra version on RCA is a classic, and is the reference performance. The early stereo is not great, and there is some slight aural artifacts here and there, but the playing more than makes up for it. My other favorite is an early 1980’s Decca recording with Mehta and the New York Phil, one of the early digital…
Munch Conducts Berlioz – MP3 Album Charles Munch was known for his Berlioz recordings, and even visited some works more than once. BMG has a great set from their ‘Complete Collections’ series with a 10CD box set. There are some classic recordings here, and even two versions of Romeo and Juliette and Symphonie Fantastique. This was an import box, and currently out of print, however it is available as an MP3 download, and at $4 per disc of music, still…