Your Top 5 Favorite Saint-Saëns Works

[Jo498]

When I was in primary school around 1980, the Carnival was almost as popular for children as Peter and the Wolf and often its B side on LPs. (Another option was to have Nutcracker excerpts with Peter and Carnival + Britten's young person's guide).

[Mountain Goat]

Symphony No. 3 (Organ)
Piano Concerto No. 5 "Egyptian"
Violin Concerto No. 3
Cello Concerto No. 1
Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso

Trying to come up with this list made me realise how little of his work I actually know. Given how much I enjoy those works I do know, that tells me I really should explore more Saint-Saëns - another thing to add to my New Year's resolutions!

[Mirror Image]

Symphony No. 3 (Organ)
Piano Concerto No. 5 "Egyptian"
Violin Concerto No. 3
Cello Concerto No. 1
Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso

Trying to come up with this list made me realise how little of his work I actually know. Given how much I enjoy those works I do know, that tells me I really should explore more Saint-Saëns - another thing to add to my New Year's resolutions!

I can only encourage you to further his oeuvre. So many gems await your discovery.

[Mountain Goat]

I can only encourage you to further his oeuvre. So many gems await your discovery.

Thanks! I certainly intend to - at least once I've finished working my way through the Langgaard symphonies!  I'm particularly keen to hear the non-Organ symphonies and the chamber music, which I (shamefully) do not know at all!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks! I certainly intend to - at least once I've finished working my way through the Langgaard symphonies!  I'm particularly keen to hear the non-Organ symphonies and the chamber music, which I (shamefully) do not know at all!

And don't forget about the sacred works like the Requiem and Psalm XVIII. Not to mention Oratorio de Noël.

[Mountain Goat]

And don't forget about the sacred works like the Requiem and Psalm XVIII. Not to mention Oratorio de Noël.

Duly noted! Another area of his catalogue I was not familiar with, or even aware of.

[Mirror Image]

Duly noted! Another area of his catalogue I was not familiar with, or even aware of.

The man was quite prolific and there's so much that I haven't heard either.

[vandermolen]

Symphony No.3
Piano Concerto No.2
Danse Macabre
Carnival of the Animals

err...that's it.

[kyjo]

Symphony No.3
Piano Concerto No.2
Danse Macabre
Carnival of the Animals

err...that's it.

Sounds like someone has some exploring to do!

[vandermolen]

Sounds like someone has some exploring to do!

Indeed Kyle! Any recommendations?

[Mirror Image]

Indeed Kyle! Any recommendations?

You didn't ask me, Jeffrey, but do give these works a listen:

Septet in E♭ major, Op. 65
Trois tableaux symphoniques d'après La foi, Op. 130
Piano Concerto No. 3 in E♭ major, Op. 29
Samson et Dalila, Op. 47
La muse et le poète, Op. 132

Although, you may want to skip Samson et Dalila since it's an opera and I know you're not much of a fan of the genre. The other works, however, I think would be right up your alley.

[Florestan]

Although, you may want to skip Samson et Dalila since it's an opera and I know you're not much of a fan of the genre.

Yes, substitute the two string quartets for S & D. 

[Mirror Image]

Yes, substitute the two string quartets for S & D. 

Or the 2nd Piano Trio.

[Florestan]

Or the 2nd Piano Trio.

Or the Piano Quartet or Quintet. Or one of the wind sonatas (better still, all three of them).

[vers la flamme]

Or the Piano Quartet or Quintet. Or one of the wind sonatas (better still, all three of them).

Those CSS wind sonatas are really good.

[kyjo]

Or the 2nd Piano Trio.

I think Jeffrey would probably like the 2nd Piano Trio cause it's one of Camille's "darker" works. Ditto the 1st Cello Sonata. I'd also recommend the highly succinct and dramatic tone poems Phaëton and Le rouet d'Omphale (with its hauntingly mysterious central section).

[Mirror Image]

I think Jeffrey would probably like the 2nd Piano Trio cause it's one of Camille's "darker" works. Ditto the 1st Cello Sonata. I'd also recommend the highly succinct and dramatic tone poems Phaëton and Le rouet d'Omphale (with its hauntingly mysterious central section).

Good choices. I should revisit Phaëton and Le rouet d'Omphale. I recall enjoying both pieces.

[Brian]

I think Jeffrey would probably like the 2nd Piano Trio cause it's one of Camille's "darker" works. Ditto the 1st Cello Sonata. I'd also recommend the highly succinct and dramatic tone poems Phaëton and Le rouet d'Omphale (with its hauntingly mysterious central section).

Yeah, he definitely likes dark stuff. It's not easy with Saint-Saëns but some of that chamber music qualifies.

[Spotted Horses]

I would have to say the five piano concerti and the cello concerto, along with a die to roll to decide which one to leave out to make an even 5.

[vandermolen]

Thanks guys!
I've read all the postings with much interest.
I'll start on the 'darker stuff' 
Thanks again.