The Carnival of the Animals The Carnival of the Animals The Carnival of the Animals (Le carnaval des animaux) is a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The work was written for private performance by an "ad hoc" ensemble of two pianos and other instruments, and lasts around 25 minutes. Following a disastrous concert tour of Germany in 1885–86, Saint-Saëns withdrew to a small Austrian village, where he composed "The Carnival of the Animals" in February 1886. It is scored for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute (and piccolo), clarinet (C and B), glass harmonica,
Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album) to Far Away" and "If You're Still in Love with Me". Erstwhile McCluskey collaborator Karl Bartos (formerly of Kraftwerk) co-wrote "The Moon & the Sun". Stephen Thomas Erlewine in AllMusic remarked: ""Universal" is a rote collection of synth-pop and dance-pop from OMD, demonstrating only a fraction of the sophisticated craft that made its predecessor "Liberator" enjoyable, and none of the adventurous spirit of their '80s records." "Trouser Press" wrote that "the album quickly settles into the type of pop OMD has offered since [1985's] "Crush"" and is "enjoyable enough for what it is". Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)