Though he refused to let Carnival of the Animals be published until after his death, this work by Camille Saint-Saëns has proven to be his most popular work. On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the baton of Juanjo Mena, launches the classical music programming at the Hollywood Bowl with this work and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.
Katia and Marielle Labéque will be playing the two pianos for Carnival. Sean Hayes of Will and Grace will narrate. The text is by Ogden Nash.
Saint-Saëns wrote Carnival of the Animals as a tribute to Mardi Gras. He did, however, choose to skewer many of the people he knew – which probably lead to his desire not to have the piece performed until he had passed away.
The 27-minute work is broken up into 14 sections representing various different animals. Perhaps the best known part of Carnival of the Animals is “Aquarium,” the 7th section.
In the second half of the program the LA Phil will perform the Berlioz. Symphonie Fantastique depicts the life of an artist who uses opium to quiet the pain of deeply-felt rejection. The composer wrote this piece in response to his being spurned by Harriet Smithson, an actress he saw perform Ophelia in Hamlet. She later heard the piece, took an interest in Berlioz and they got married – only to have their marriage fall apart.
Symphonie Fantastique runs approximately 50 minutes.
To read my interview with the Labéque Sisters, go here.
Photo of the Labéque Sisters by Mila/Courtesy of Labeque.com
For tickets go here.