Andrew-John Smith - Saint-Saens: Organ Music, Vol. 2 - La Madeleine, Paris

British organist Andrew-John Smith once again brings his compelling artistry to the service of Camille Saint-Saens. Smith�s commanding sense of architecture, breathtaking musicality and astonishing control of dynamics and nuance is thrilling. As with Volume 1, this disc provides a rare opportunity to hear Saint-Saens�s organ works played on the very instrument for which they were composed�the magnificent Cavaille-Coll at La Madeleine, Paris.The art of improvisation was essential for French organists and huge importance was placed on the development of this skill. Saint-Saens was renowned for his extraordinary organ improvisations and it was said that �his genius was of an indescribable splendour�. In committing these extensive improvisations to paper he offers an insight into his instinctive musical logic and dazzling virtuosity. The Preludes and Fugues bear witness to the composer�s improvisatory flare and demonstrate the extent of his vastly imaginative compositional skills.