I suppose some of you might've guessed this poll was coming (or not). ;) Anyway, choose your five favorite works from Saint-Saëns. I was thinking of adding some stipulations to this poll like no member can pick the 3rd symphony, 2nd PC, Danse Macabre or Le Carnaval des animaux, but these may be some of the only works some of you know. ;D Anyway...have fun!
My picks (in no particular order):
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
In no particular order
Septet
PC1
VC3
CC1
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for violin and orchestra
Quote from: Florestan on January 14, 2022, 06:12:00 AM
In no particular order
Septet
PC1
VC3
CC1
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for violin and orchestra
A fine list, indeed.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 14, 2022, 06:21:54 AM
A fine list, indeed.
So is yours, although I have never heard the Op. 130.
Quote from: Florestan on January 14, 2022, 06:23:15 AM
So is yours, although I have never heard the Op. 130.
Thanks, I'd say this work is Saint-Saëns at his most Debussyian.
Quote from: Florestan on January 14, 2022, 06:36:11 AM
I'm intrigued. :)
It's by no means a "popular" work and I don't even believe it's been recorded too many times. I own a performance from Plasson (Warner) and Fischer (Hyperion).
Give it a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/v/7M208gTLazc
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 14, 2022, 06:45:25 AM
It's by no means a "popular" work and I don't even believe it's been recorded too many times. I own a performance from Plasson (Warner) and Fischer (Hyperion).
Give it a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/v/7M208gTLazc
I will, later. Thanks.
alphabetically by title:
Clarinet Sonata
Etudes for solo piano, Op. 111
Piano Concerto No. 3
Piano Concerto No. 5
Samson et Dalila
I'm starting to really like the Septet, too, so if GMG ends up picking a consensus Favorite, I wouldn't mind if it was the Septet. :)
Clearly my overall favorite work is the Fifth Concerto, however, as its finale appears on my list twice!
I own and have heard most of his chamber and orchestral music, even a bit of choral music and Samson & Dalila but I know only a fraction of it well. So the list is strongly dependent on the pieces; I somehow want to included woodwind chamber music but I don't remember any of the sonatas...
Violin concerto #3
Violin sonata d minor
Beethoven variations for two pianos op.35
Piano concerto #4
Symphonie with organ
Nice lists, Brian and Jo498. 8) And Brian, yes, the Septet might reach a GMG consensus and I wouldn't be surprised if it did since it's a magnificent work.
I also like the septet, just didn't want to repeat the nomination. It might be the first "neo-baroque" piece, it's brilliant and funny. I also felt a bit unfair vs. all the other chamber music I vaguely recall to mostly like but it's just not sticking in your mind like the septet or that 1st violin sonata (one of about 3 or so, from which the author Proust supposedly fashioned an imaginary sonata in a novel).
In no specific order:
Suite Algérienne
Piano Trio No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 5
Samson et Dalila
Phaéton
Symphony No. 3 "Organ"
Piano Concerto No. 4
Cello Concerto No. 1
Piano Concerto No. 1
Septet
Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5
Violin Sonata No. 1
Clarinet Sonata
Beethoven Variations
but I was very tempted to just say Piano Concertos 1-5 and leave it there.
Quote from: amw on January 14, 2022, 09:45:05 AM
...but I was very tempted to just say Piano Concertos 1-5 and leave it there.
Same here.
Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4
Samson et Dalila
😎
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on January 14, 2022, 09:20:31 AM
In no specific order:
Suite Algérienne
Piano Trio No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 5
Samson et Dalila
Phaéton
Great choices, Cesar!
Now this is a fun poll! Great choices everyone! I'll go with:
Cello Sonata no. 1 in C minor
Fantaisie for violin and harp
Piano Concerto no. 1 in D major (really, I could've chosen any of them)
Piano Trio no. 2 in E minor
Symphony no. 3 in C minor avec Orgue
Bonus: Rhapsodie d'Auvergne for piano and orchestra
This reminds me, I haven't listened to his most famous work, Les carnival des animaux, in ages.....
Quote from: kyjo on January 14, 2022, 06:46:01 PM
Now this is a fun poll! Great choices everyone! I'll go with:
Cello Sonata no. 1 in C minor
Fantaisie for violin and harp
Piano Concerto no. 1 in D major (really, I could've chosen any of them)
Piano Trio no. 2 in E minor
Symphony no. 3 in C minor avec Orgue
Bonus: Rhapsodie d'Auvergne for piano and orchestra
This reminds me, I haven't listened to his most famous work, Les carnival des animaux, in ages.....
Nice list, Kyle. The
Fantasie for Violin & Harp is an outstanding work. So gorgeous. Honestly, it could've easily made my own list.
Quote from: kyjo on January 14, 2022, 06:46:01 PM
This reminds me, I haven't listened to his most famous work, Les carnival des animaux, in ages.....
The last time I heard Carnival was after finding out that my girlfriend - a classical-savvy person who went to the symphony as a kid and played oboe in high school orchestra - had
never heard of it. She liked most of it but said that Le Cygne was "too sappy" and "wow, you don't have to be a professional cellist to play this, do you?" ;D
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).
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!
Quote from: Mountain Goat on January 15, 2022, 10:38:38 AM
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.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 15, 2022, 06:35:58 PM
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! :laugh: I'm particularly keen to hear the non-Organ symphonies and the chamber music, which I (shamefully) do not know at all!
Quote from: Mountain Goat on January 16, 2022, 12:37:44 PM
Thanks! I certainly intend to - at least once I've finished working my way through the Langgaard symphonies! :laugh: 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.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 16, 2022, 12:58:11 PM
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.
Quote from: Mountain Goat on January 16, 2022, 01:42:14 PM
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.
Symphony No.3
Piano Concerto No.2
Danse Macabre
Carnival of the Animals
err...that's it.
Quote from: vandermolen on January 17, 2022, 09:13:07 AM
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! ;)
Quote from: kyjo on January 17, 2022, 11:10:18 AM
Sounds like someone has some exploring to do! ;)
Indeed Kyle! Any recommendations?
Quote from: vandermolen on January 18, 2022, 08:00:01 AM
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. 132Although, 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.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 18, 2022, 09:39:48 AM
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. ;)
Quote from: Florestan on January 18, 2022, 09:44:35 AM
Yes, substitute the two string quartets for S & D. ;)
Or the 2nd
Piano Trio. 8)
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 18, 2022, 10:49:01 AM
Or the 2nd Piano Trio. 8)
Or the Piano Quartet or Quintet. Or one of the wind sonatas (better still, all three of them). :D
Quote from: Florestan on January 18, 2022, 10:49:38 AM
Or the Piano Quartet or Quintet. Or one of the wind sonatas (better still, all three of them). :D
Those CSS wind sonatas are really good.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 18, 2022, 10:49:01 AM
Or the 2nd Piano Trio. 8)
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).
Quote from: kyjo on January 18, 2022, 02:44:40 PM
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.
Quote from: kyjo on January 18, 2022, 02:44:40 PM
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.
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.
Thanks guys!
I've read all the postings with much interest.
I'll start on the 'darker stuff' :)
Thanks again.
Quote from: Spotted Horses on January 18, 2022, 07:57:58 PM
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.
Thanks
I like the PC No.2 already and I think that No.4 is on the same Naxos CD.
Quote from: vandermolen on January 20, 2022, 12:27:48 AM
Thanks guys!
I've read all the postings with much interest.
I'll start on the 'darker stuff' :)
Thanks again.
In addition to the other works suggested, I would say give a listen to
String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, Op. 112. There is definitely a darker hue found in this work that I think you'd appreciate.
Quote from: vandermolen on January 20, 2022, 12:29:04 AM
Thanks
I like the PC No.2 already and I think that No.4 is on the same Naxos CD.
I doubt you'll be disappointed by the PC no. 4, Jeffrey. An introspective, sometimes mysterious first movement followed by a thrilling second movement which features one of Camille's greatest and most majestic "big tunes". It's an ingeniously constructed and thematically integrated work.
An update:
Trois tableaux symphoniques d'après La Foi
String Quartet No. 1
Violin Concerto No. 2
Violin Sonata No. 1
Piano Trio No. 2
Trois tableaux symphoniques d'après La Foi
Symphony No.3
Piano Concerto No. 5 'Egyptian'
Requiem Op. 54
Danse Macabre
Also always fun to pay special attention to is the late Saint-Saëns, from after 1900, when he began to fall out of step with his contemporaries, say Debussy. There are gems among them:
1902 Parysatis
1908 Trois tableaux symphoniques d'après La foi
1910 La muse et le poète for violin, cello and orchestra
1918 Morceau de concert for harp and orchestra
1919 Cyprès et lauriers for organ and orchestra
Quote from: Christo on April 10, 2025, 12:21:03 AM1910 La muse et le poète for violin, cello and orchestra
1918 Morceau de concert for harp and orchestra
Thumbs up for these. What splendid pieces they are.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 14, 2022, 06:08:46 AMMy picks (in no particular order):
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
I still stand by these picks. All fabulous works.