Many delights here, French fun and frolics, the debut Symphonies of three notable composers, the Bizet and Saint-Saëns both teenage works, the former a singular evergreen masterpiece, the latter unnumbered and pleasingly Schubertian. Gounod’s example is easy to love, earworming itself into one’s affections, for me ever since Michel Plasson’s recording appeared a few decades ago, although I find Yan Pascal Tortelier (Chandos) makes the music even more insouciant. Not that Kazuki Yamada and his Monte-Carlo musicians lack for style or fondness, listening pleasure assured, although Bizet’s Scherzo is a little stiff, and his Finale a tad swift; all repeats are observed. This ninety-minute collection requires a second disc (for Saint-Saëns), which I hope doesn’t increase the cost of this excellently recorded and presented release. Alpha Classics ALPHA1149 is recommended.
https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/premieres-symphonies-bizet-gounod-saint-saens