Carnival of the Animals – A music piece tells the story

Synopsis

The “Carnival of the Animals” is his best known work. Camille Saint-Saëns never wanted to publish it during his lifetime. On the 100th anniversary of the composer's death in December 2021, the music piece itself tells us how the dwindling act of birth occurred in the composer's mind. It is the notes that tell us of its suffering and of its triumph on the great stages of the musical world. According to the will of its creator, "Carnival of the Animals" was to be performed only once, in March 1886, on Shrove Tuesday. And now this piece has stolen the show from Camille Saint-Saëns' other works for a hundred years. Directors have brought Saint-Saëns' music to Hollywood. At the Cannes International Film Festival, "The Aquarium" is the signature tune. The film shows that "Carnival" is more than the musical characterization and exaggeration of various species. The role of the narrator was taken over by German actor Sebastian Koch. An orchestra specially assembled for the film lets the music of the "Carnival of the Animals" resound.

Additional Info

• No: 8777
• Artists: Gabriela Montero, Cameron Carpenter, Camille Thomas
• Production year: 2021
• Run time: 00:52:00
• Director: A Film by Holger Preusse
• Producers: Sounding Images, WDR, arte
• Format: HDTV 16:9