COMPANY: Naxos
CATEGORY: CD

Product: 747313347773

Out of stock

The Third Piano Concerto has been considered the ‘Cinderella’ among Camille Saint-Saëns’ five works in this genre, but it owes its comparative neglect to an adventurous approach to harmony which caused unrest in the audience at its première. Daring enough in the first movement, the search for tonality in the second was such an extreme experience that it caused unrest in the audience at its première. Saint-Saëns also composed for piano and orchestra in more rhapsodic forms, exploring folk tunes and rhythms from Africa, and revealing his playful side in the charming Wedding Cake Waltz. Volume 1 can be heard on 8.573476.

August 2017

Descharmes has good fingers, which one certainly needs for Saint-Saëns, and at time he employs them to produce that sparkling style known to the French as jeu perlé. In the three shorter pieces that complete the disc, there is much to admire in both the playing and the writing.

July 2017

the climax of [Africa] is carried off with a nonchalant swagger that I found iresistible, the triangle adding a curious buzzing effect. The warmth and depth of the orchestal contribution and Marc Soustrot's eye for detail are significant bonuses.

Saint-Saëns: Africa - Fantasie for piano & orchestra Op. 89
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major Op. 29
Saint-Saëns: Rapsodie d'Auvergne for piano & orchestra Op. 73
Saint-Saëns: Wedding Cake - Valse-Caprice for piano & strings, Op. 76
Conductors
Soustrot, Marc
Groups & Artists
Descharmes, Romain
Malmo Symphony Orchestra