Saint-Saëns, Camille - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Kantorow, Alexandre (piano)

In 2019, Alexandre and Jean-Jacques Kantorow's recording of Camille Saint-Saëns's last three piano concertos received the highest praise around the world, including the Diapason d'or de l'année award, Gramophone Editor's Choice, and top ratings and recommendations from leading German websites Klassik Heute and Klassik.com. Kantorow chose the Finnish Tapiola Sinfonietta as his orchestra, and they have now returned to Helsinki to record not only Saint-Saëns's first two concertos, but also all of his remaining works for piano and orchestra. The program presented on this richly varied album spans 33 years, the earliest being Concerto No. 1, considered the first significant French piano concerto, written by the 23-year-old composer. Ten years later, in 1868, Saint-Saëns composed the Concerto in G minor, which initially caused consternation, although Liszt – who was present at the premiere – accepted it wholeheartedly. The work, which begins with the soloist playing in a manner reminiscent of organ improvisations, soon became popular and remains one of Saint-Saëns's best-known works.