XAVER VARNUS (ORGAN) PLAYS SAINT-SAENS’ PRELUDE TO “LE DELUGE“

Xaver Varnus plays the Prelude to “Le Deluge“ by Camille Saint-Saens on the organ of the Synagogue of Szeged, Hungary, with the participation of Petra Kiss (piano). Recorded live on October 11, 2015. Le Déluge (The Flood), Op. 45, is a French oratorio written by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1875 and scored for orchestra, chorus, and soloists. The libretto, a “poème biblique“ by Louis Gallet, is based on the biblical story of Noah and the flood. It was premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet on March 5, 1876, under the direction of Edouard Colonne. Stylistically, the work shows the influence of Berlioz and Wagner in its musical illustrations of the narrative and use of recurring motifs. It also displays Saint-Saëns’s strong predilection for counterpoint; there are three fugues incorporated into the music.