Recommending Saint-Saens

[Guest]

I may be biased as I studied with her, but Christine Croshaw's recent CD of piano music by Saint-Saens (also including the c minor sonata for cello and piano) is great. Makes me wonder why we so rarely hear any of the composer's solo piano music programmed...

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Meridian/CDE84433

[richardfinegold]

SS isn't found very frequently on any concert programs on this side of the pond, excepting when a concert hall wants to show off it's pipe organ.

[amo]

This is very true. I'm thoroughly enjoying the recommended Saint-Saens disc here. It prompts me to explore his piano concertos...

SS isn't found very frequently oin any concers on this side of the pond, excepting when a concert hall wants to show off it's pipe organ.

[richardfinegold]

This is very true. I'm thoroughly enjoying the recommended Saint-Saens disc here. It prompts me to explore his piano concertos...

Try the set by Aldo Ciccoloni (sp?), which I used to have on lps 30 years ago and enjoyed. i probably haven't heard a SS Piano Concerto since...

[LeMartinPecheur]

Try the set by Aldo Ciccoloni (sp?), which I used to have on lps 30 years ago and enjoyed. i probably haven't heard a SS Piano Concerto since...

Lots of good sets of these concertos. Possibly the highest-rated these days is the Hough on Hyperion but Roge with Dutoit had its time. Really ought to check it out: I've had the cassettes awaiting playing for years My CD set that has kept the Roge at bay is an old French EMI mono one by Jeanne-Marie Darre(e-acute - yes, another one, I know...) which has had its advocates.

[bluestateprommer]

SS isn't found very frequently on any concert programs on this side of the pond, excepting when a concert hall wants to show off it's pipe organ.

The exceptions to that rule would include:

1. Danse macabre
2. Carnaval des animaux (usually with narrator, unfortunately)
3. Piano Concerto No. 2
4. "Bacchanale" from Samson et Dalila

I once heard CS-S' Symphony No. 2 at the Concertgebouw some years back, with the Netherlands Philharmonic and Philippe Entremont, if memory serves correctly (it may not, might have to try to dig up the program). Have also heard his Violin Concerto No. 3 and the Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso live here and there.

For the symphonies, on CD, the old Jean Martinon set on EMI seems a good recommendation. There's the Hyperion set of the 5 piano concerti with Stephen Hough also, of course.

[Petrushka]

I've only heard SS twice in the concert hall in 40 years. The 'Organ' Symphony, performers unknown, and the Piano Concerto No 2 with RPO/Previn, pianist unknown.

I do retain a soft spot for the Living Stereo recording of the 'Organ' Symphony with Charles Munch, the Boston SO and Berj Zamkochian.

[Ferretfancy]

I've only heard SS twice in the concert hall in 40 years. The 'Organ' Symphony, performers unknown, and the Piano Concerto No 2 with RPO/Previn, pianist unknown.

I do retain a soft spot for the Living Stereo recording of the 'Organ' Symphony with Charles Munch, the Boston SO and Berj Zamkochian.

There was an excellent performance of the Piano Concerto No.2 at this year's Proms with Benjamin Grosvenor. I'm fond of this piece, which is heard fairly frequently, but the one I would like to hear in a live performance is No. 4. which does not deserve to be neglected.

Saint-Saens wrote some excellent chamber music, notably his Sextet, the two Piano Quartets,the 1st Violin sonata and the Cello Sonata. He is often said to have been a facile composer, in the way that Mendelssohn once was. but there's nothing trivial in these works.

[Stanfordian]

I enjoy Saint-Saens's pair of Piano Trios. I have four versions: the Altenberg Trio Wien, Joachim Trio, Vienna Piano Trio however I feel that the finest recording is from the Florestan Trio that they recorded in 2004 at the Henry Wood Hall, London on Hyperion CDA67538. I feel that all of Saint-Saens's chamber music is well worth exploring and the series on the MDG label has some fine releases. In addition I like his sacred choral works especially the disc from The Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge directed David Rowland titled 'Quam Dilecta' - 'French Romantic Choral Music' containing 5 of Saint-Saens's works on Regent Records REGCD 375. There is also his neglected Requiem on Chandos.

[Roehre]

I enjoy Saint-Saens's pair of Piano Trios. ..... I feel that all of Saint-Saens's chamber music is well worth exploring and the series on the MDG label has some fine releases. In addition I like his sacred choral works.... There is also his neglected Requiem on Chandos.

Couldn't have said this better. But please don't forget the lovely Christmas Oratorio, IMO unjustly neglected also.

[Ferretfancy]

Couldn't have said this better. But please don't forget the lovely Christmas Oratorio, IMO unjustly neglected also.

Roehre and Stanfordian,

Apologies for saying piano quartets in my post, it was the piano trios that I meant.

[rauschwerk]

...but the one I would like to hear in a live performance is No. 4. which does not deserve to be neglected.

Cortot thought that No. 4 was the only one really worth playing - in fact, he refused to play any of the others.

I read good reports of the piano trios and bought the Florestan Trio's versions. However, I was disappointed in the music and listened only a few times to each piece.

[Barbirollians]

That Darre set is superb .

[Jonathan]

The box set on Hyperion with the Nash Ensemble is also excellent and includes the (frankly mad) septet and the Tarantella, as well as other more rarely heard reprtoire:

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67431/2&vw=dc

[amo]

Thanks for the wealth of information here. I much appreciate it. I have ordered a fine String Quartets CD recommended previously on the Naxos label. And I will certainly follow up some of these recommendations.
I hope some of you fellow Saint-Saens fans will listen to Christine Croshaw's disc too - its such poetic piano playing, and well chosen repertoire too.