Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre, Op. 40

James Judd Conductor

Gathering limits prevented the NZSO from performing to audiences for much of 2021, but we wanted to keep the band playing together and provide music for people at home. We recorded a number of great works during this time under the baton of Music Director Emeritus James Judd and with the support of broadcast partner RNZ Concert.

This is one of these works, and we hope it is of interest to you.

Originally composed as a symphonic poem for orchestra in 1874 by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, Danse macabre, was an art song for voice and piano with a French text by poet Henri Cazalis. The composer then turned the piece into a symphonic poem and replaced the vocal line with a solo violin part, here played by former NZSO Concertmaster Wilma Smith (1993-2002).