Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony and Liszt's Totentanz

Conductor Pierre Bleuse and pianist Nelson Goerner in Liszt's Totentanz

A challenging concert by the Netherlands Philharmonic, conducted by the French conductor Pierre Bleuse, chief of the Odense Symphony Orchestra and the renowned Ensemble Intercontemporain. Nelson Goerner, world-class pianist and great Liszt expert, plays Liszt's Totentanz , an exciting series of variations on the Gregorian Dies Irae from the traditional requiem mass. In this piece, Liszt combines his devilish virtuosity with exquisite musicality, an interplay that results in a brilliant and daring composition.

The Organ Symphony by Saint-Saëns

The organ is given a prominent place in Saint-Saëns' famous 'Organ Symphony'. He was himself an organist in one of the great Parisian cathedrals. Sometimes the organ shines above everything else, but usually it is subtly incorporated into the sound of the orchestra. That requires an organist who is not only a soloist, but who has mastered the art of ensemble playing down to the finest detail. That is why Laurens de Man, who possesses these qualities par excellence, is behind the keyboards of the famous organ in the Concertgebouw.