Massenet: Suite No. 2 "Scènes hongroises" (with Score)

Jules Massenet:
Suite No. 2 "Scènes hongroises" (with Score)
Composed: 1871
Conductor: Jean-Yves Ossonce
Orchestra: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

00:00 1. Entrée en forme de Danse. Allegro risoluto. Allure franche et gaie (C major)
03:44 2. Intermède. Allegretto leggiero. Mouvement de marche modéré (G major)
06:43 3. Adieux à la Fiancée. Adantino très calme (avec un sentiment intime) (E-flat major)
10:00 4. Cortège, Bénédiction Nuptiale, Sortie de l'Eglise. Allegro risoluto. Allure franche et gaie - Andante molto sostenuto religioso - Allegro risoluto (C major - F major - C major)

Massenet's second Suite for Orchestra originated as a series of piano works for four hands, which the composer subsequently orchestrated. The descriptive titles of the four movements describe a Hungarian wedding celebration: 1. Entrée en forme de danse (Entrance in the form of a dance), 2. Intermède (Intermezzo), 3. Adieux à la fiancée (Good-bye to the betrothed), 4. Cortège, Bénédiction nuptiale, Sortie de l'église (Procession, Nuptial blessing, Departure from the Church). The first movement is a lively dance, followed by a lovely intermezzo that suggests the tender emotions of a wedding day. In the work's final movement, the orchestra imitates the sound of a church organ as husband and wife share a wedding blessing and depart from the church.