Saint-Saëns: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here's a logical and, believe it or not, rare coupling. Saint-Saëns wrote two excellent cello concertos, and you would think that they would be featured together on more recordings. Instead, we usually get the far less musically rewarding "Lalo" Concerto, and listeners are robbed of the chance to make the acquaintance of the Concerto No. 2, which deserves to be much better known. Maria Kliegel is a very fine cellist--as good as anyone out there on any given day--and she has made a lovely series of recordings for Naxos. This is one of the best, a totally enjoyable romp through Saint-Saëns's typically French combination of formal sophistication and polish. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Saint-Saens Cello Concertos Review.......2007-01-10

Excellent sound quality. Masterful performance by both artist and orchestra. Concerto No. 1 very familiar, No. 2 not often performed but should be. Glad that these two were offered together.
Lloyd E. Davis

Average customer rating:

Very Good Cello Music From Saint-Saens

Saint-Saëns: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Lalo: Cello Concerto; Sonata; Chants russes
Sibelius: Complete music for cello & piano
Saint-Saëns: The Three Violin Concertos
Dohnanyi: Sonata for cello in Bfm; Konzertstück in D
Saint-Saëns: Cello Sonatas; Suite for Cello and Piano, Op. 16

ASIN: B0000014CT
Release Date: 1997-04-08

Tracks:

Cello Concerto No.1 In A Minor, Op.33: Allegro non troppo
Cello Concerto No.1 In A Minor, Op.33: Allegretto con moto
Cello Concerto No.1 In A Minor, Op.33: Allegro non troppo
Suite, Op.16: Prelude: Moderato assai
Suite, Op.16: Serenade: Allegro non troppo
Suite, Op.16: Gavotte: Allegro non troppo
Suite, Op.16: Romance: Molto adagio
Suite, Op.16: Tarantelle: Presto non troppo
Cello Concerto No.2 In D Minor, Op.119: Allegro moderato e maestoso
Cello Concerto No.2 In D Minor, Op.119: Allegro non troppo
Allegro appassionato In B Minor, Op.43
Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan (Adagio)

Amazon.com

Here's a logical and, believe it or not, rare coupling. Saint-Saëns wrote two excellent cello concertos, and you would think that they would be featured together on more recordings. Instead, we usually get the far less musically rewarding "Lalo" Concerto, and listeners are robbed of the chance to make the acquaintance of the Concerto No. 2, which deserves to be much better known. Maria Kliegel is a very fine cellist--as good as anyone out there on any given day--and she has made a lovely series of recordings for Naxos. This is one of the best, a totally enjoyable romp through Saint-Saëns's typically French combination of formal sophistication and polish. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Cello Music From Saint-Saens.......2007-05-04

These works are not as well-known as some others by arguably the best French composer ever. However, there is some very nice music here. In my book, most of Saint-Saens' music is pleasing to the ears. It may not always be deeply inspired music-making, but is nonetheless enjoyable. I would rank his Cello Concerto No.1 in the Top Ten of his works, not too far behind his more famous Third Symphony, Second Piano Concerto, or Third Violin Concerto. Maria Kliegel proves once again to be a very good soloist, sympathetic and technically flawless. I say 'once again' because she also performs beautifully on Schumann's Cello Concerto, nicely coupled on Naxos with the Brahms Double Concerto. She recieves fine support from the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, conducted by Jean-Francois Monnard, although the strings sound a little thin on this recording. The Second Concerto, although not as well-known as the First, also comes across well. Added to the mix is a delightful version of the early Suite, Opus 16. Saint-Saens orchestrated this himself, whereas the original version was with piano accompaniment. The same is true of the Allegro appassionato in B minor, Op.43 (not to be confused with his Op.70 for solo piano & orchestral accompaniment). Lastly, the quintessential romantic cello piece "The Swan", originally with double piano, the 13th movement of his famous Carnaval of the Animals. Recorded here is a version by the conductor and composer Paul Vidal, who was a pupil of Massenet, and a friend of Debussy and Chabrier. The double piano is replaced by the harp, joined by strings. Altogether this is a recommendable CD of cello music from Camille Saint-Saens on the award-winning Naxos label. At this price, it is all the more delightful.