Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No.5

[fred smalls]

Is the intro to the second movement of this piece not the greatest part of any concerto ever written? ? ? ?

BTW: Why aren't the Saint-Saens concertos way more famous? They're all so ridiculously good!!!!!

Yes, it is.
Fred Smalls

[pianohopper]

BTW: Why aren't the Saint-Saens concertos way more famous?? They're all so ridiculously good!!!!!

Probably has something to do with the fact that they never really caught on at their debuts -- because of a number of factors ranging from a more popular Mendelssohn to an underpar debut performance.  (Saint-Saens himself admitted that he could have done with a bit more practice before premiering one of his concertos, can't think of which one off the top of my head.)

[fred smalls]

Probably has something to do with the fact that they never really caught on at their debuts -- because of a number of factors ranging from a more popular Mendelssohn to an underpar debut performance.  (Saint-Saens himself admitted that he could have done with a bit more practice before premiering one of his concertos, can't think of which one off the top of my head.)

That would be the second one, which is funny, because it became the most famous of them all...

[stevie]

not only the concertos, but his other works for piano and orchestra are marvelous too, i especially enjoy 'africa' and the allegro appassionato.

[fred smalls]

not only the concertos, but his other works for piano and orchestra are marvelous too, i especially enjoy 'africa' and the allegro appassionato.

Haven't heard them, will definately have to check them out!!!

[stevie]

they are all on the hough 2cd set on hyperion, including the concertos.

benchmark performances, very much in the style i feel the composer intended - rhythmically vibrant, very clear sound, and zero unnecesary rubato - too mnay people play these like they are rachmaninov(and ironically, rachmaninov too should not be played like rachmaninov usually is)

[moose_opus_28]

Wow, Hough played them?  I must get it then...I saw him play in February, and it was astounding.  His best pieces were those similar to Saint-Saens, like Moszkowski...can't remember which pieces.  Anyway, I'm getting that!

And the 5th is really neat.  I love the last movement too.  I think the 4th is the best though.

[mlsmithz]

Ah, the 'Egyptian'.... easily my favourite of the Saint-Saens concerti.  I do love the introduction to the second movement (and its appearance in modified form at the other end of the movement for its tense conclusion), but my favourite passages are the secondary theme sections in the exposition and recapitulation of the first movement and the bouncy introduction to the finale (I also love its nightmarish re-appearance in C minor at the beginning of the development).  My only complaint is that the final bars of the finale sound very awkward to me (I have the same complaint about the final bars of the first movement of the Tchaikovsky B-flat minor - though I know there are those on these boards who feel the same way about the entire piece!).  It's one of those concerti I wish I had the time to sit down and learn, but as I'd never have a chance to perform it, there doesn't seem much point.

I have Collard and Previn's recording of the concerti (along with the aforementioned 'Africa' and 'Wedding Cake' fantasies).... I quite like it, but I've seen strong arguments in favour of Roge and Dutoit's set as well as Hough and Oramo's. (Both times I've seen Hough perform live - my first time seeing him at all was on television, as teacher of the BBC Young Musician piano masterclass in 1989, which was also my introduction to the 'Waldstein' sonata - he was playing Rachmaninov.  Given his appropriately restrained performances thereof, I can imagine he does well with the Saint-Saens.)

[viking]

I actually dont like lots of Saint-Saens concerti.  The 2nd is marvellous, ill give him that, but most of the other ones dont have enough substance.  What I mean is that as wonderful sounding as the 4th concerto is, it is actually quite boring to me.  I only listen to it when I am in a completely tolerant and already entertained mood.  The concerti arent bad works, they're just not inspiring, dont have much character, and overall not my favorite.  I'm not a Rach only concerto listener either.  I appreciate many concerti, just not these ones for some reason.  I would much rather listen to Prokofiev, Liszt, Khachaturian, or even Ligeti. 
SAM

[Teddybear]

I was offended when Neuhaus called Saint-Saëns a second-class composer, but I think Saint-Saëns didn't succeed when he composed his piano concertos. The 2nd concerto is brilliant, but the others simply seem to lack daring and consistency. He was a great composer. The Carnival of Animals, for example, is ingenius.

T

[stevie]

he composed awesome music in every genre too, i heard a piano trio in E minor, very beautiful and moving.

[pianowelsh]

I love the 5th I think i would say its my favourite although i do like them all. I have a soft spot for no 3 too - its so odd and other worldy - its great! I prticularly think no 5 should be played more because i believe it would be popular with audiences with all the really strong numibian associations its a wonderfull piece of writing that really catches the mood- something concerti rarely do actually! I have to say the lack of consistency (which is there) dosent get in the way of my enjoyment - i like the outlandish way he works - for me i think the 2nd is actually the one i like least (not to say i dont like it) but for me its the most conventional of the 5. I aim to study no 5 myself someday when i have more time to devote to it!

[fred smalls]

I have Collard and Previn's recording of the concerti (along with the aforementioned 'Africa' and 'Wedding Cake' fantasies).... I quite like it, but I've seen strong arguments in favour of Roge and Dutoit's set as well as Hough and Oramo's. (Both times I've seen Hough perform live - my first time seeing him at all was on television, as teacher of the BBC Young Musician piano masterclass in 1989, which was also my introduction to the 'Waldstein' sonata - he was playing Rachmaninov.  Given his appropriately restrained performances thereof, I can imagine he does well with the Saint-Saens.)

I have Roge's recording of the concerti and it is amazing!  By far the most thrilling of them all in the case of the 5th concerto!

I actually dont like lots of Saint-Saens concerti. The 2nd is marvellous, ill give him that, but most of the other ones dont have enough substance. What I mean is that as wonderful sounding as the 4th concerto is, it is actually quite boring to me. I only listen to it when I am in a completely tolerant and already entertained mood. The concerti arent bad works, they're just not inspiring, dont have much character, and overall not my favorite. I'm not a Rach only concerto listener either. I appreciate many concerti, just not these ones for some reason. I would much rather listen to Prokofiev, Liszt, Khachaturian, or even Ligeti.
SAM

I was offended when Neuhaus called Saint-Saëns a second-class composer, but I think Saint-Saëns didn't succeed when he composed his piano concertos. The 2nd concerto is brilliant, but the others simply seem to lack daring and consistency. He was a great composer. The Carnival of Animals, for example, is ingenius.

T

Sorry you guys but your opinions are wrong. 

Peace
Fred Smalls

[Teddybear]

Sorry you guys but your opinions are wrong. 

I'm not saying that, judging by his piano concertos, the guy couldn't compose. The material is superb. It just doesn't build up into anything. I also very much enjoyed the Rogé collection. It's breath-takingly beautiful almost all the time, but it doesn't have the thread.

T

[ravel]

i always loved his second piano concerto. its amazing, specially the first movement,   the second movement is good as well, not that fond of the third movement.
  and of all the versions i have heard,( including gilels and rubinstein ,roge and hough) , i loved andre watts playing it the most.
but i hadnt heard any other piano concerto of his  till  a couple of weeks back when i got the complete 5 concertos by pascal roge.  i didnt pay that much attention to 1,3, and 4 , but they sounded fine,  but ya the fifth piano concerto is good. not as good as the second one. but still i loved it . it is a beautiful piece.
also,saint saens has a few beautiful compositions to his name , butttttttt
what  i dont like about saint saens is that he didnt like debussy and ravel hehe.
and thought their music was crap.  how in this worlddddddddddddddddddd?

[viking]

Fred Smalls, you may like the concertos, but I dont.  It doesnt meen my opinion is wrong.  Opinions arent wrong, their ideas.  Your wrong.
SAM

[Derek]

Is the intro to the second movement of this piece not the greatest part of any concerto ever written? ? ? ?

BTW: Why aren't the Saint-Saens concertos way more famous? They're all so ridiculously good!!!!!

Yes, it is.
Fred Smalls

You clearly have excellent taste in music.  These concertos ARE very good. I haven't heard much else by Saint-Saens that I like a lot, but his concertos are indeed wonderful.   

[fred smalls]

Fred Smalls, you may like the concertos, but I dont.  It doesnt meen my opinion is wrong.  Opinions arent wrong, their ideas.  Your wrong.
SAM

Viking, you took my joke too seriously...

You clearly have excellent taste in music. These concertos ARE very good. I haven't heard much else by Saint-Saens that I like a lot, but his concertos are indeed wonderful.

Why thank you Derek!  You too have exellent taste!