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Wow! Saint-Saens' Third Symphony No.3 in C minor: live performance.

Colloquially "The Organ Symphony" due to that instrument's major role in it.

Live performance, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Anna Lapwood the organist; Conductor: Geoffrey Peterson.

The performance was under the auspices of the Hanley-Barber Institute's lunctime concert series that has been running for eighty years, we were told, in Birmingham.

I think I heard and quoted the orchestra correctly, but the Radio Times names the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Anna Lapwood is one of many musicians particularly keen on schools providing music education, which has been steadily eroded over the last several decades. She is also very busy as a transcriber and performer, playing Classical as well as Modern-era such as Saint-Saens' music, and Contemporary, especially film scores, and is due to give performances of film music in the USA.
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FreddieUK · 70-79, M
She has popularised the organ like no-one else has by her vivacity and lack of reverence towards performance as well her superlative ability in playing.

I've heard quite a few live performances of this in various venues, but the one that still stands out was at the Birmingham Town Hall in around 1975. It was the City of Birmingham Orchestra, but too long ago for me to remember the conductor ot organist. It wasn't the City Organist (George Thalban-Ball) I'm pretty sure.
val70 · 56-60
Thank you for the posting! It reminds me that almost the worst ever recording of the work was once done with Karajan. The finale never took off bogged down by the conductor’s heavy tread and foursquare phrasing. Of course, the pre-recorded organ sound from the Notre-Dame de Paris somehow “patched in” didn't help either. Must say that I did enjoy this ending though :)

[media=https://youtu.be/swDuXAKLy8U]
Thinkerbell · 41-45, F
@val70

Fortunately, this conductor isn't Karajan. 🤭
val70 · 56-60
@Thinkerbell Fortunately, this wasn't a bad patch-in either
Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
Anna Lapwood has an interesting YouTube channel.

She tries to find rehearsal time on suitable organs in theatres and churches all over the place.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Picklebobble2Including the Royal Albert Hall in the dead of night! She is not alone in the building. There are security and cleaning staff, for example, and I recall her saying she sometimes has interesting conversations with them.
Rickichickie · 61-69, F
There was a huge queue in front of the Cologne Cathedral last July, so many young people wanted to listen to Anna Lapwood who got famous on TikTok.
[media=https://youtu.be/0_KW1LqUhWE?si=9a2BJvtr7hiL-buT]

 
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