Bacchanale: Saint-Saëns et la Méditerranée

by Zahia Ziouani, Fettouma Ziouani, Ensemble Amedyez, Orchestre Divertimento

Overview

The Orchestre Divertimento and its conductor, Zahia Ziouani, often juxtapose European repertory with music from other parts of the world. Ziouani, who is of Algerian background, has a particular interest in the music of that country. She could not have found a composer whose works were more congenial to such a project than Camille Saint-Saens, who visited Algeria no fewer than 18 times and composed a Suite algerienne, Op. 60, that is heard here, broken up and interspersed with Arabic music. What makes Ziouani's project unique is that there are not two types of music here but three. Many of the Saint-Saens works are preceded by improvisations in the classical Arabic idiom, on oud, qanun, a traditional viol, derbouka, and the riqq drum. These are quite a musical distance from Saint-Saens, but Ziouani introduces contemporary Arabic songs, of a semi-popular nature, as an intermediate step. The sets are mostly in related tonalities. This is an ingenious idea that sheds light on both Saint-Saens, on what he heard when he heard Algerian music, and on the nature of contemporary popular traditions that are rooted in the classical music of the world. The Saint-Saens performances themselves are entirely creditable, and the album is well recorded at a couple of different locations. A unique release that makes one want to hear more from this distinctive ensemble. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	05/19/2023
Label:	HARMONIA MUNDI
UPC:	3149020947944

Tracks

1. Parysatis~Introduction et Air de ballet no. 1
2. Parysatis~Air de ballet no. 2
3. Parysatis~Air de ballet no. 3
4. A vava Inouva, pour chant, violoncelle et harpe
5. Tarentelle, pour flûte, clarinette et orchestre, Op. 6
6. Introduction à la Jota aragonese.
7. Jota aragonese, Op. 64
8. Istikhbar Mezmoum (Improvisation)
9. Samson & Dalila~Mon c¿ur s'ouvre à ta voix, pour violoncelle et orchestre
10. Samson & Dalila~Danse Bacchanale
11. Suite algérienne en do majeur, Op. 60~I. En vue d'Alger. Molto allegro
12. Istikhbar Zidane (Improvisation)
13. Inqileb: Yabadi el Hosn
14. Suite algérienne en do majeur, Op. 60~II. Rhapsodie mauresque. Allegretto non troppo
15. Introduction à Leyla (Improvisation)
16. Leyla
17. Suite algérienne en do majeur, Op. 60~III. Rêverie du soir. À Blidah. Allegretto quasi andantino
18. Introduction à Chanson mauresque de Tunis (Improvisation)
19. Chanson mauresque de Tunis

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Zahia Ziouani   Primary Artist
Orchestre Divertimento   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Fettouma Ziouani   Primary Artist,Cello
Ensemble Amedyez   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Stephane-France Leger   Harp
Bastien Anthoine   Riqq
Mahdi M'kinini   Qanoun
Yousef Zayed   Oud
Abderrahmane Khalfa   Derboukha
Patrick Messina   Clarinet
Rachid Brahim Djelloul   Violin
Silvia Careddu   Flute

Technical Credits

Gauthier Simon   Mastering
Cyprien Matheux   Editing
Bruno Moussier   Photography
Fettouma Ziouani   Arranger,Additional Music
Antonin Mege   Arranger,Transcription
Mahdi M'kinini   Additional Music
Yousef Zayed   Additional Music
Zuhair Z. Halwany   Text Translation
Smail Benhouhou   Arranger,Transcription
Francisco Salvador-Daniel   Composer
Manon Fayard   Engineer
Marie-Gabrielle Soret   Liner Notes
Mohamed Benhamadouche   Text
Christophe Fillieule   Photography
Algerian Traditional   Composer
Olivier Rosset   Artistic Director,Realization
Camille Saint-Saens   Composer,Original Material
Idir   Composer
Patrick Bourque   Photography
Abdel Kader Ouedraogo   Poetry
Rachid Brahim Djelloul   Arranger,Composer,Additional Music
Denis Vautrin   Engineer,Mastering
Ahmed Alaoui   Poetry
Mike Sklansky   Text Translation,Liner Note Translation