Product Details
Saint-Saëns: 5 Piano Concertos

Saint-Saëns: 5 Piano Concertos
From EMI Classics Imports

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Track Listing

Disc 1:

  1. Movement 1
  2. Movement 2
  3. Movement 3
  4. I. Andante Sostenuto
  5. II. Allegro Scherzando
  6. III. Presto
  7. Moderato assai - Più mosso (Allegro maestoso)

Disc 2:

  1. Andante
  2. Allegro non troppo
  3. Allegro moderato / Andante
  4. Allegro vivace / Andante / Allegro
  5. I. Allegro animato
  6. II. Andante
  7. III. Molto Allegro

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #423786 in Music
  • Released on: 2001-08-07
  • Number of discs: 2

Customer Reviews

Best complete set of these colorful concertos5
This recording was first released on the old Angel/Seraphim label and made a great impression upon the classical music opinion leaders of that time. The performances are elegant and powerful, beautifully played by Ciccolini and well supported by the orchestra under Baudo's expert direction. Of special note is the exquiste recorded sound. Back in the early 70's, this was considered one of the best engineered concerto recordings around, and it sounds great today. The balance between the piano and orchestra is superb; natural, spacious and clean. You really cannot go wrong with this album if you are interested in obtaining all five of this underrated composer's piano concertos.

Take this music . . . seriously5
These are the first recordings I heard of these delightful pieces for piano and orchestra; having listened to many other versions since (by both French and non-French artists), these EMI recordings are still among my favorites.

Aldo Ciccolini comes from the Busoni school of pianism, which combines German intellectualism with Italianate lyricism; those who might think these qualities are unsuited to the music of Saint-Saens should spend some time listening to these marvelous accounts. The approach is quite deliberate at times, but it allows the music to unfold in a way that reveals hidden depths of expression, due in large part to Serge Baudo's careful direction. A recent recording of these concertos by Stephen Hough, for example, seems barnstorming and merely flashy by comparison.

All in all, the pairing of Ciccolini and Baudo is a fine choice for a complete set of these piano concertos.

Excellent Rendition5
This is the best rendition of the Saint Saens concertos I have heard. Buy it. You will be pleased. Ciccolini is an under-rated pianist who "sculpts" sound.