In February 1886, the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns isolated himself for a few days in a small Austrian village. There he finally put down on paper an idea he had been thinking of presenting to his students: the remarkable exercise in imagination, criticism and humour entitled The Carnival of the Animals, consisting of 13 short movements and a finale that give a musical “voice” to characters from the animal kingdom.

An ever-delightful piece of work, this time accompanied by other creations inspired by the same universe.

And now – make way for the conductor!