I do not believe we are playing "The Swan," from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals," correctly.
Everyone sees The Swan as this gorgeous lyrical piece, rising above the silliness of the rest of Carnival of the Animals... but Carnival of the Animals is full of bits that poke fun at musicians. Like "Pianists" and how "Fossils" uses his Danse Macabre. In fact, The Swan comes between those two movements.
I think The Swan is supposed to be satirical. It's extremely sentimental, based around a cello solo, and extreme phrasing. I think the intent might have been to overdo it.
Breathe loudly and heavily. Exaggerate your bowing. Play with more rubato. Push the phrasing and dynamics beyond the bounds of good taste. Play with even more rubato. Play like you have a Fever, and the only cure is More Rubato. Play like you have no faith that your audience is going to understand that this is The Most Beautiful Thing Ever. Play it like you have no concept of Too Much, or Going Too Far. Gild that 1886 lily.
And pianists, at the end... pretend to break down and cry because it's so beautiful, man, I just need a moment...
Let's make The Swan as funny as the rest of the suite. For Camille's sake. For the sake of friends everywhere who get together to have stupid fun.
