The Second Symphony is longer and a bit more serious in intent. There is a dramatic almost Beethovenian scherzo preceded by a sonata-allegro first movement and a hymnlike larghetto second movement with arching cantabile main theme. The finale is a high-spirited romp -- albeit with a minor-key glance at the drama of the scherzo -- that returns us to a world closer to that of French comic opera; although Gounod is not noted for his own comic operas, it is clear that he might have given Offenbach a run for his money had he so chosen.
The Sinfonia Finlandia is a group I was not familiar with, but they clearly are a world-class ensemble. Their founder/conductor is Patrick Gallois, the distinguished French flutist, a student of Jean-Pierre Rampal, who obviously is also a good conductor on the evidence of these performances. He has the ability to limn the delicacy and grace of Gounod's music as well as evincing the drama inherent in the Second's scherzo. Bravo!
01. Symphony 1 - I. Allegro molto (6:37)
02. Symphony 1 - II. Allegro moderato (3:40)
03. Symphony 1 - III. Scherzo. Non troppo presto (5:52)
04. Symphony 1 - IV. Finale. Adaagio - Allegro vivace (9:42)
05. Symphony 2 - I. Adagio, Allegro agiato (8:37)
06. Symphony 2 - II. Larghetto (8:57)
07. Symphony 2 - III. Scherzo. Allegro milto (4:48)
08. Symphony 2 - IV. Finale. Allegro, leggiero assai (8:39)
09. Faust - Les Nubiennes, valse (Allegretto) (2:30)
10. Faust - Adagio, Animato (4:08)
11. Faust - Danse antique (Allegretto) (1:25)
12. Faust - Variations de Cleopatre (Moderato maestoso) (1:45)
13. Faust - Les Troyennes (Moderato con moto) (2:49)
14. Faust - Variations du miroir (1:57)
15. Faust - Danse de Phryne (2:45)
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