CCMusic.com

Charles Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was "a man of many parts". He wrote and published poetry and at least one staged drama; he knew Berlioz, lived long enough to know Stravinsky, and was among the numerous younger composers who received significant encouragement from Liszt, to whom he dedicated his towering orchestral achievement, the Symphony No.3 "Organ", recorded here. The Symphony in C minor is, in fact, an outright tribute to Liszt, in it's substance and structure as well as the dedication. Music Director Michael Stern has embarked on his second decade with the Kansas City Symphony, hailed for it's remarkable artistic ascent, inventive programming, organizational development and stability, and the extraordinary growth of it's varied audiences since his tenure began. Under his thoughtful direction, the Symphony has partnered with Grammy® Award-winning Reference Recordings for an ongoing series of highly praised CDs and ushered in a new era of critical acclaim and sold-out concerts.