Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

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The virtuosity is breathtaking, yet nothing is hard-pressed, for the younger Kantorow has that hallmark of the greatest performers of always appearing to have plenty of time...In short, this... — BBC Music Magazine, July 2022, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 6th May 2022
Catalogue No: BIS2400
Label: BIS
Length: 84 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

July 2022

Concerto Choice
Schallplattenkritik Quarterly Critics Choice

Autumn 2022

Orchestral Music & Concertos
International Classical Music Awards

2023

Nominated - Concerto
Gramophone Awards

2023

Shortlisted - Concerto

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Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

Work length24:50

$3.50

$6.45

$8.75

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow

I. Andante sostenuto

Track length12:36

$1.00

$3.85

$5.25

II. Allegro scherzando

Track length5:51

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Presto

Track length6:23

$1.50

$1.30

$1.75

Saint-Saëns: Wedding Cake - Valse-Caprice, Op. 76

Work length6:04

$1.50

$1.30

$1.75

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Saint-Saëns: Allegro appassionato, Op. 70

Work length6:12

$2.05

$1.30

$1.75

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major Op. 17

Work length26:55

$4.05

$7.75

$10.50

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow

I. Andante

Track length11:53

$1.00

$3.85

$5.25

II. Andante sostenuto, quasi adagio

Track length8:07

$1.00

$2.60

$3.50

III. Allegro con fuoco

Track length6:55

$2.05

$1.30

$1.75

Saint-Saëns: Rapsodie d'Auvergne, Op. 73

Work length10:09

$1.50

$3.85

$3.50

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow

Saint-Saëns: Africa - Fantasie for piano & orchestra Op. 89

Work length10:32

$1.00

$3.85

$5.25

Alexandre Kantorow (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow

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"In 2019, Alexandre and Jean-Jacques Kantorow’s recording of the last three piano concertos by Camille Saint-Saëns earned the highest praise around the world, including a Diapason d’or de l’année, Editor’s Choice in Gramophone and top marks and recommendations from the leading German web sites Klassik Heute and Klassik.com. The Kantorows’ orchestra of choice was the Finnish ensemble Tapiola Sinfonietta, and they have now returned to Helsinki to record not only Saint-Saëns’ first two concertos, but all of the remaining works for piano and orchestra. Presented on this amply filled disc, the programme spans 33 years, the earliest work being Concerto No. 1, regarded as the first significant French piano concerto and written by a 23-year old composer. Ten years later, in 1868, Saint-Saëns composed the Concerto in G minor, a work which at first met with consternation although Liszt – who was present at the first performance –thoroughly approved of it. The work, which begins with the soloist playing what resembles the improvisations of an organist, soon became popular however, and remains one of Saint-Saëns’ best-known works. The shorter pieces which make up the rest of the programme were written between 1884 and 1891, and could be said to erveal different aspects of the composer: Wedding Cake was written as a wedding present to a close friend, in Rhapsodie d’Auvergne Saint-Saeëns explored French folk music, while Africa is a piece of pure Orientalism, reflecting his lasting affection for North Africa."

Reviews

July 2022

The virtuosity is breathtaking, yet nothing is hard-pressed, for the younger Kantorow has that hallmark of the greatest performers of always appearing to have plenty of time...In short, this disc completes a Saint-Saëns piano concerto set that has few peers and none that are better.

6th May 2022

he always gives the more serious side of his French countryman its due, with sobriety, grandeur, and a tiger’s strength taking their place beside kittenish games and delicate charm. The lively orchestra is the Tapiola Sinfonietta, conducted by Jean-Jacques Kantorow, the soloist’s proud father.

30th July 2022

this follow-up [to Kantorow's first Saint-Saëns recording] is just as good, with lean, lively orchestral playing from the chamber-sized Tapiola Sinfonietta... The evocative sequence of horn calls which opens Concerto No. 1 is wonderfully done, Kantorow’s energy in the “Allegro assai” totally convincing... It’s great fun.

Schallplattenkritik Autumn 2022

Elegance, intelligence, esprit: this recording is the capstone of the young French Tchaikovsky prizewinner Alexandre Kantorow’s complete recording of the piano concertos and concert pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns, and it is impressive.

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

SACD

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