Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No.5 The Egyptian

[darcyhj]

I love this piece, I was wondering why it's not as popular as his other concertos ie. No.2. What do other people feel about it.

[argerichfan]

I love this piece, I was wondering why it's not as popular as his other concertos ie. No.2. What do other people feel about it.

I love it dearly... but yet it just doesn't have the 'flow' and the assurance of the 4th Concerto.  The 5th is a great collection of tunes that any composer would be proud of, but they just aren't integrated in the sense that the 4th is.

Full disclosure: the 4th was the last concerto I studied at uni.  It was a total b*tch -very, very athletic to play- but it was a tremendous experience.  I'll never forget it, and I almost won the competition...   

[mikey6]

I think it's a lot better than 2 - the last movt of 2 annoys me!
The harmonic sonorities in the slow movt of 5 are great!
But agreed, it doesn't push any boundaries like 4, it's a pleasant work.

[soderlund]

The fourth concerto is probably one of my absolute favourite concertos in the repertoire, and terribly underplayed. Some day when I am ready for it, I have to work on that piece.

About the fifth one, I like it a lot more than the second concerto too... Not as good as the fourth though xD