Customer Reviews

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos 1-5; Wedding Cake Caprice-Valse

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We heard the Piano Concerto No. 5 in F on National Public Radio and decided that we must have this piece of music in our CD collection. We selected this CD since the two CDs allowed us to purchase all 5 of Camille Saint-Saens' Piano Concertos. This CD has become one of our favorites and we play it often, discovering more interest in the work of Saint-Saens with each playing.

Camille Saint-Saens' sense of drama, his lyric runs, his ability to evoke mystery, all make this listening experience highly recommended. I am fascinated by the way Saint-Saens creates rich variations of his themes as he takes us from movement to movement. Saint-Saens has the ability to develop ethereal melodies and variations on themes that are hypnotic and mystical. His piano runs are pushed for dramatic effect. The creative and amusing variations of his themes are pleasant and amusing.

This CD is highly recommended. In addition to the 5 Piano Concertos, Saint-Saens' Wedding Cake Caprice and the Africa Fantaisie are included. I found Jean-Phillippe Collard's interpretation to be masterful and rich, capturing the vast complexity and variation that Saint-Saens created in his compositions.

The reviewers before this one provide excellent discussion of this set, and I would agree that it is a top-notch set of recordings and performances. We love this set, play it often, and would not part with any recording upon it.

The two versions of the popular and lovable Concerto No. 2 that are compared, those of Jean-Philippe Collard (this set) and Cecile Licade, are certainly different. Collard is decidely gentler, a bit slower and more "laid-back" in common parlance. Licade's is spritelier, a bit faster and of slightly higher energy. Does this make one better than the other? Subjectively it may, but it really depends on the person listening, and both performances are technically excellent and completely satisfying. If I *had* to pick one of the No. 2s, I would pick Licade because of the higher energy, but I would sorely miss Collard - and Collard comes with 4 other splendid concertos and a handful of other delightful pieces, while the Licade is paired with two other Saint-Saens concertos (violin and cello, both superb by the way) that are available elsewhere.

In any case, please do not feel that you are missing out on anything in Concerto No. 2 by purchasing one or the other - both are fine performances and beautifully recorded. None of these recordings or performances require any apologies.

This two-disc EMI Classics recording includes all of Camille Saint-Saëns' numbered Piano Concertos (1-5), and also includes his shorter "Wedding Cake" and "Africa" piano concertos. I've been enjoying this two-disc set immensely, and the recording quality is excellent. Even though the piano concertos do not follow each other in sequential order (Nos. 1, 2 and 4 are on Disc 1 & Nos. 3, 5 and the rest are on Disc 2), they do make sense.

There are other complete Saint-Saëns piano concertos sets on the market, but I think that for a price of less than $12 - you will be hard pressed to find any recording that gives you more bang for your buck. Enjoy!

I've heard Ciccolini's and Hough's sets of these concerti, but this is my favorite by a wide margin. Hough's has been highly praised elsewhere, and I certainly agree that his technique is astounding. He plays these concerti faster than anyone, and that is precisely my complaint. Hough seems so busy moving through these works at warp three hyperdrive that he takes just about NO time to stop and smell the roses--and there are plenty in this music.

Not that Collard is slow. He can glitter just well as Hough, but he also knows when to seduce--listen to the second theme of the scherzo of No.2--the way he and Previn teasingly hang on to a note just a microsecond before playfully plunging into the phrase itself. They don't make a big deal of this, and these performances are NOT "mannered," but the listener is drawn in, and the sensation is almost physical. This is only one instance of the felicities of agogics and phrasing in these performances.

I have not heard the Licad performance so esteemed by another reviewer at the expense of Collard's. Personally, I've never heard anything by Licad I've liked. Her CD of Gottschalk was panned by FANFARE. Of course, that doesn't mean she couldn't be good in No.2, but there's nothing wrong with Collard.

It's just a pity this couldn't have been rounded out to a trio of CD's to include the Rapsodie d'Auvergne and Allegro appassionato also recorded by this team. I own both this set and Hough's, but I listen to this one a LOT more. Also, the price is certainly more attractive than Hyperion's, although for me that is NOT the issue.

I rather enjoy this collection of piano concertos by the wonderful Camille Saint-Saens. Each one is quite different from the others, and it makes it a lot of fun to go through all of them. Of special praise is the inclusion of the Wedding Cake and the Africa Fantasy. All of this together with superb performances by Collard and the Royal Philharmonic makes for a fantastic experience. You won't be disappointed.

Wonderful beautiful music. I bought it for "Africa" Fantasie Op. 89 but was totally pleased with both CDs. Saint-Saens like I have never heard before. Two thumbs up!!!

Say what you will about Saint-Saens's personal life (or his gripes against certain composers). It doesn't affect the fact that he created some wonderful music in his own lifetime. His piano concertos are some of the most beautiful he has ever created. They are filled with lyrical melodies and expressive melodies. I sometimes wonder why they're not as famous as Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, but anyway, Saint-Saens's concertos are marvelous.

Jean-Philippe Collard, the pianist, is simply amazing with his attention to detail. He stresses lyricism and gives all five concertos a bit of an ethereal feel. He is especially careful with his choice of tempo. He never misses a step, and his overall playing is extraordinary. Maestro Andre Previn is magnificent with his steady control of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which performs beautifully alongside pianist and conductor. One small flaw: there's a bit of an imbalance between piano and orchestra (piano sounds fairly louder than the orchestra sometimes). But other than that, everyone involved in this 2-CD recording has done Saint-Saens's piano concertos justice.

Grade: 9.3 out of 10

The performances of all the concertos were outstanding, and the price was excellent. However, the sound could have been better. The recording was not up to the best standards of EMI. Not having heard the original full price releases, which sold for about four times the price, I do not know if they sounded the same or if remastering of the later releases was poorly done. Nevertheless, a great way to obtain all of these pieces at a low price.

This is a great way of getting all of the Saint-Saens piano concertos. I have been happy with these CDs. I have not liked the 1st piano concerto, but that is not the fault of the performance. My only problem with the performance would be that the 2nd concerto's fast movements are played too slowly. The sound (recorded 1985-1987) is quite good.

Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major Op. 17
1st mov. - 12:30
2nd mov. - 9:35
3rd mov. - 6:50

Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22
1st mov. - 11:14
2nd mov. - 5:55
3rd mov. - 6:31

Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major Op. 29
1st mov. - 14:13
2nd mov. - 8:55
3rd mov. - 7:47

Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor Op. 44
1st mov. - 12:53
2nd mov. - 13:36

Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major Op. 103
1st mov. - 11:41
2nd mov. - 11:14
3rd mov. - 6:03

"Wedding Cake" Caprice-Valse Op. 76 - 6:18

"Africa" Fantaisie Op. 89 - 10:48

these cd's are very interesting. Saint saens aren't the greatest composer that existed but his music is aways very clear and elegant. Collard is a great player mainly of French music.