The Carnival of the Animals and xylophone. From the beginning, Saint-Saëns regarded the work as a piece of fun. On 9 February 1886 he wrote to his publishers Durand in Paris that he was composing a work for the coming Shrove Tuesday, and confessing that he knew he should be working on his Third Symphony, but that this work was "such fun" (). He had apparently intended to write the work for his students at the École Niedermeyer, but it was first performed at a private concert given by the cellist Charles Lebouc on Shrove Tuesday, 9 March 1886. A second (private) performance was given
Crush (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album) the group talking about their career and performing the songs from the album. "Crush" received positive appraisals in Britain, including what Andy McCluskey saw as the band's "first good LP review in "NME"". Ian Cranna of "Smash Hits" wrote: "OMD continue their healthy recovery of form... strong, melodic songs in a more lush, or, orchestral setting, while still retaining that passionate punch. It's a welcome return of the thinking-person's dance music, and isn't it good to hear real drums again?" Stateside, "Michigan Daily" critic Beth Fertig said the album "further confirms that [OMD] is one of the most creative forces