Your favorite Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto

[classicalgeek]

Inspired by Mirror Images's purchase of a Saint-Saëns piano concerto set, and subsequent discussion, I'm curious what GMG-ers think of this set of five concerti.  No. 2 is certainly (by far) the most popular of the five, enjoying many performances and recordings apart from the complete set.  No. 4 used to be done more frequently, it seems, but less so now.  No. 5 is probably the best-known of the remaining three, and the only one with a nickname ('Egyptian'), while nos. 1 and 3, lovely works that they are, remain relative rarities in concert and on recordings.

No. 5 is my favorite, though I enjoy them all, particularly the odd-numbered concerti.  The Fifth is probably the most cohesive and satisfying for me - a beautiful first movement with rippling arpeggios and scales, the slow movement with its colorful harmonies and bitonal effects, and a finale that's in true Saint-Saëns style, virtuosic and carefree.

So, which one do you like best?

[Karl Henning]

I love 'em all, won't vote for just one!

[Sergeant Rock]

I love 'em all, won't vote for just one!

I love them all too but still the choice is easy: the Fourth in C minor, first heard when I was a wee lad, Ormandy and Entremont playing the hell out of it. I love the hymn-like theme that's hinted at throughout the concerto, the theme that finally bursts forth gloriously halfway into the second movement.

Sarge

[Christo]

Mine is the often dreamlike 'Egyptian' (actually written in Algeria, IIRC). The Fifth. My arguments are rather similar to Sarge's, but the piece in question is the next one in the series. Heard it as a teenager and fell in love with it. The type of early love that won't die. 

But only in the great performances, of course, the piece can easily be spoiled. 

[Mirror Image]

I love 'em all, won't vote for just one!

Same here, so I can't vote.

[madaboutmahler]

I do love them all so much, so it was hard to vote! I went for no.5 in the end.

I really hope no.3 gets some love though....

[Lisztianwagner]

I really appreciate all  Saint-Saëns Piano Concertos too; if I had to choose one of them, it would be provably a nice challenge among the 2nd, the 3rd and the 5th.

I may vote for Piano Concerto No.2, I could never forget about the outstanding performance of that work Arthur Rubinstein made.

[Scion7]

There is very little in his output that I haven't liked.  I went with the 5th, by a fraction over the 2nd.

[DieNacht]

Can´t say that all are very well known to me, but I like them & own some recordings - 2, 4 & 5 probably being favourites.

The 4 individual concertante pieces ("Rhapsodie d´Auvergne", "Africa", "Allegro" and "Wedding Cake Caprice") aren´t bad either.

Will mention the early temperamental Rubinstein/Mitropoulos of the 2nd Cto and the rather slow but nice Jaquinot/Fistoulari and Richter/Kondrashin in Concerto no.5, as well as the Entremont/Plasson complete set. What I heard of the Darré recordings (no.2) I found disappointing ...

[mszczuj]

I voted for No.4 because it is so unbelievably shameless.

[Sergeant Rock]

I voted for No.4 because it is so unbelievably shameless.

Once again I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...but I appreciate the vote for #4 

Sarge

[Christo]

Have been playing my two favourites again, thanks to this unbelievable shameless thread. 

They are No. 4 in C minor op. 44 and No. 5 in F major op. 103. Pascal Rogé with Charles Dutoit conducting the Philharmonia and the Royal PO, for Decca. 

[mszczuj]

Once again I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about...but I appreciate the vote for #4 

Sarge

I consider Saint-Saens the composer of the best musical taste between Chopin and Ravel. But he used to use his sublime taste to write in perfectly tasteful maner the music which is absolutely beyond any taste. So my listenig to Saint-Saens is the mixture of admiration, smile  and the facepalms. The hymn theme of the second part  of Piano concerto iNo.4 is probably this piece which gives me the greatest amount of ocassions to smile and to facepalm. Of course if I manage to not whistle when listening.

[mszczuj]

They are No. 4 in C minor op. 44 and No. 5 in F major op. 103. Pascal Rogé with Charles Dutoit conducting the Philharmonia and the Royal PO, for Decca.

Dutoit's Saint-Saens? No facepalms, no smile, no admiraton, now whistling - only deep understanding that it the sleep time now.

This is abolutely the worst thing available on records.

[Christo]

This is abolutely the worst thing available on records.

C'mon, you can't be serious.  Rogé is terrific and Dutoit is overall quite good in the Saint-Saëns of his that I happen to know. I at least know far worse performances of these concertos - my two favourities in the series as said.

[mszczuj]

C'mon, you can't be serious.  Rogé is terrific and Dutoit is overall quite good in the Saint-Saëns of his that I happen to know. I at least know far worse performances of these concertos - my two favourities in the series as said.

Well, may be I have exaggerated. In fact I can't say that Dutoit's Concerto No.4 is worse than his Danse macabre.

No emotions, no fantasy, no l'esprit. Listening to Dutoit's Saint-Saens is for me as fascinating as counting pickets in a mile long fence.

[Christo]

Finally bought the EMI twofer with Jean-Phillippe Collard and André Previn conducting the RPO. The five concertos and two fitting fillers (Wedding Cake and Africa). Not bad either. 

[Brian]

Sarge and others sold me on the Malikova set - really fantastic. I think my favorite moment from any of the five is the majestic opening of No 3 - but that incredible 'Egyptian' slow movement is close behind. More listening needed!! 

[TheGSMoeller]

Um...I've never listened to any of them...[quickly runs away]

[mc ukrneal]

Um...I've never listened to any of them...[quickly runs away]

Grab a disc before you get away! Seriously, you have some wonderful music to look forward to.