Chausson / Ravel / Saint-Saëns

Exclusive to Apple, this electrifying album of Romantic and 20th-century French works was recorded live in December 2022 at one of the Vienna Philharmonic’s coveted subscription concerts. First on the programme is Chausson’s sublime work for violin and orchestra, the Poème of 1896, here featuring the Vienna Philharmonic’s concertmaster Volkhard Steude as soloist. Steude proves a passionate advocate of the piece, with an impeccable technique and undying intensity. “This is a piece about real love, written from the bottom of the heart,” says Steude’s fellow Vienna Philharmonic violinist Katharina Engelbrecht. “It’s like singing a sad song and crying: its free form gives it a very special character.” Ravel’s four-movement Rapsodie espagnole is one of the composer’s earliest works for orchestra, and uses Spanish dance rhythms, modal scales and innovative orchestration to achieve its heady atmosphere. “I love how vibrant this piece is, and how quickly the colours change,” says Engelbrecht. “You can hear a lot of harp glissandos and castanet rhythms, and you really feel like you’re in the middle of a Spanish festival. You immediately want to dance!” Finally, we hear one of the 19th century’s great symphonies, Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony featuring the Musikverein’s 1907 Rieger organ. Just over 12 minutes into the opening track, we hear this instrument’s magical soft diapasons blending seamlessly and beautifully with the orchestra. And at the start of the final movement, the organ dominates with its majestic, almost iconic C-major chords. “You feel completely overwhelmed,” says Engelbracht. “It’s an unbelievable experience, which I think everyone should enjoy at least once in their lifetime.”