Composed during a period of social readjustment in post-war France, the First Cello Concerto marked Saint-Saëns’ acceptance as a composer among the establishment, and has long been one of his most admired works. Recognition for the fiendishly technical Second Cello Concerto took longer, although its tranquil central movement contains one of the most sublime melodies Saint-Saëns ever wrote. The supremely famous Le Cygne appears alongside the less well-known Bach-inspired Suite in D minor, and with the inclusion of the Romance this programme contains Saint-Saëns’s complete works for cello and orchestra.01. Gabriel Schwabe – Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 3302. Gabriel Schwabe – Romance in F Major, Op. 36 (version for cello and orchestra)03. Gabriel Schwabe – Suite in D Minor, Op. 16b, R. 211 I. Prélude04. Gabriel Schwabe – Suite in D Minor, Op. 16b, R. 211 II. Sérénade05. Gabriel Schwabe – Suite in D Minor, Op. 16b, R. 211 III. Gavotte06. Gabriel Schwabe – Suite in D Minor, Op. 16b, R. 211 IV. Romance07. Gabriel Schwabe – Suite in D Minor, Op. 16b, R. 211 V. Tarentelle08. Gabriel Schwabe – Allegro appassionato in B Minor, Op. 43 (version for cello and orchestra)09. Gabriel Schwabe – Cello Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 119 I. Allegro moderato e maestoso – Andante sostenuto10. Gabriel Schwabe – Cello Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 119 II. Allegro non troppo – Cadenza – Molto allegro11. Gabriel Schwabe – Carnival of the Animals, R. 125 Carnival of the Animals XIII. Le Cygne (The Swan) (arr. P. Vidal for cel13222990066/49.72.150.151