Customer Reviews

Saint-Saens: Piano concertos nos. 1 & 2; Suite for orchestra in D major

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

 

 

It's worth noting that JJ Kantorow and his band, and Ogawa, play the SNOT out of these things. The First Piano Concerto is especially fine. They take it seriously, but manage to infuse the entire affair with the same sly sense of humor Saint-Saens must have intended. There's an element of parody in this concerto that is impossible to miss...at the same time, you can take the thing entirely on its own merits and let the humor be a kind of bubble in the background..like good champagne, perhaps..

This is the best performance of the First Concerto I know. I haven't heard the new Malikova recording..but even if it's better somehow, this is worth having for some absolutely flawless and extremely stylish playing..not to mention the quality of the recording, right up there with the best BIS has ever done.

Bravo!!!! To all concerned!

Nice kitschy feel about it. Kantorow and orchestra balance the pianist nicely with their sense of humour. Recommended just for the music.

I heard the first two selections played on a classical station that broadcasts over the web. Both selections became instant favorites of mine. The suite in D has a haunting beauty (I love the intro), and the concerto no 2 in G has a wonderfully playful style. Both are a pleasure to listen to. I'm looking forward to hearing the concerto no 1 in D when I get my CD.