Saint-Saëns: The Complete Etudes [Import]

Camille Saint-Saens (Composer), Piers Lane (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Piers Lane
• Composer: Camille Saint-Saens
• Audio CD (November 10, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B00000DLY3
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,135 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 1 Prelude: Con bravura

2. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 2 Pour l'independence des doigts: Andantino malinconico

3. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 3 Prelude et Fugue en fa mineur - Prelude: Allegro

4. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 3 Prelude et Fugue en fa minuer - Fugue: Animato

5. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 4 Etude de rythme: Andantino

6. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 5 Prelude et Fugue en la mineur - Prelude: Allegro moderato

7. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 5 Prelude et Fugue en la mineur - Fugue: Moderato

8. Six Etudes Op 52: No. 6 En forme de Valse: Mouvement de Valse

9. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 1 Tierces majeures et mineures: Allegretto

10. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 2 Traits chromatiques: Allegretto

11. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 3 Prelude et Fugue - Prelude: Moderato agitato

12. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 3 Prelude et Fugue - Fugue: Moderato espressivo

13. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 4 Les cloches de Las Palmas: Andantino

14. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 5 Tierces majeures chromatiques: Vivace

15. Six Etudes Op 111: No. 6 Toccata d'apres le 5e Concerto: Molto Allegro

16. Six Etudes pour la main gauche seule Op 135: No. 1 Prelude: Allegretto moderato

17. Six Etudes pour la main gauche seule Op 135: No. 2 Alla fuga: Allegro non troppo

18. Six Etudes pour la main gauche seule Op 135: No. 3 Moto perpetuo: Allegretto - doux et tranquille

19. Six Etudes pour la main gauche seule Op 135: No. 4 Bourree: Molto allegro

20. Six Etudes pour la main gauche seule Op 135: No. 5 Elegie: Poco adagio

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful disc, September 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Saint-Saëns: The Complete Etudes (Audio CD)

Saint-Saens is one of those underrated composers who is slighted mostly because his muse wasn't tragic or dramatic. Most of what he wrote is well crafted and enjoyable for the sheer pleasure of being beautiful music.

This disc is no exception. Saint Saens was a formidable pianist, so this music isn't easy, but Lane sails through it with aplomb and a sweet tone. There are many gems here, including a wonderful fugue for the left hand alone.

Put this disc on and sit back. Maybe you won't be transported to a different, rapturous world but I guarantee you'll be more relaxed and have a smile on your face when it's done.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspended Disbelief, March 31, 2010

By 

E. R. Joseph "movies & music" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saint-Saëns: The Complete Etudes (Audio CD)

While the entire album is enlightenly beautiful - I, as a pianist, had no idea Saint-Saens had written such a n array of etudes (studies to improve certain aspects of playing).

Of the 18 etudes on the album, the most striking and unbelievable are the last 6 from Opus 135. They are all written for the left hand alone, and were dedicated to his friend Caroline de Serres, whose right hand had been immobilized.

My suspended disbelief comes with the hearing of these last 6 etudes. To hear them, it would seem as if both hand were playing. There is, however, an element of suspision.

On the listed credits, it states that the Steinway piano was "prepared" by Ulrich GerhartZ.

I would like to know how the piano was "prepared.

These 6 etudes all sound as if they were being played by a delicate child's hand, rather than those of master pianist Piers Lane. The notes are so soft and delicate, it is difficult to believe that the piano "preparation" did not have a great deal to do with the delicate sound.

Nevertheless. I would recommend any pianist or music lover get this album. It also helps if you have the musical scores in front of you while listening.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well-played, rewarding release, January 30, 2011

By 

G.D. (Norway) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Saint-Saëns: The Complete Etudes (Audio CD)

Saint-Saens piano etudes are certainly variegated, ranging from the delightfully and poetically evocative to blazingly virtuosic finger twisters. In other words, there are many very fine, charming and appealing miniatures on this disc, which will definitely provide plenty of enjoyment to the listener, even if the overall musical style is a little anonymous. Saint-Saens surely never had a shortage of good ideas, but he sometimes had a tendency to "streamline" them a little too much - perhaps an example of flawless compositional skill curbing the imagination slightly too much (the left-hand etudes op.135 are almost surprisingly rewarding, by the way).

Piers Lane offers performances that certainly do not overdo the virtuosic elements; they are stylish, poetically rich and silvery (surely many of the pieces come across sounding far easier than they in fact are) even if some of the works may perhaps be a little understated. Best are the op.111 works (listen out for the intermittent foretastes of Debussy here), but Lane's warmly sympathetic playing presents all the works here in a very positive light. A fine disc, then, if not exactly one to change the world. The sound quality is as good as one would predict given the source; recommended.