Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Works, Paraphrases and Transcriptions, volume 1
Saint-Saëns excelled as a composer, conductor, pianist and organist – his composition output is enormous, reaching over 160 titles of which many are substantial – operas, ballets, symphonies – yet today much of his work remains neglected and he is known by a few works only: the Organ Symphony, Samson et Dalila, Danse Macabre and Carnival of the Animals. His original piano pieces are generally light ‘salon’ works but are nonetheless delightful and well formed. His major contribution to the piano works is the equally neglected body of transcriptions (of his own works and those of others) where he was sadly eclipsed by the more outgoing and promotion-minded Franz Liszt. This album and its companion include a number of first recordings, introducing a large body of keyboard gems to a new audience. Volume 1 is divided into two sections: transcriptions from Opera and Ballet, and pieces inspired by specific places.
Antony Gray is a London-based Australian pianist and teacher with numerous acclaimed recordings to his name on ABC and other labels including a 3CD set of Bach transcriptions and a 5-disc set containing the entire piano output of Poulenc. He has premiered many new pieces written for him and has often appeared on radio in the UK and Australia.
Find volume 2 here
Track Listing
- Javotte – Bourrée (2:13)
- Javotte – Scène et valse lente (4:39)
- Javotte – Pas de deux (1:57)
- Javotte – Allegretto – Allegro non troppo presto (2:44)
- Caprice d’Alceste (after Gluck)(13:22)
- Ascanio – Scène du mendiant (6:00)
- Ascanio – Danse de l’amour (2:49)
- Valse du Prophète de Meyerbeer (6:58)
- Henry VIII – Quatuor (7:30)
- Paraphrase sur Mandolinata de Paladilhe(4:37)
- Proserpine – Act II Prelude (1:55)
- Proserpine – Pavane (1:39)
- La Mort de Thaïs (after Meyerbeer)(10:27)
- Scherzo sur Les Pêcheurs de Perles (after Bizet)(10:24)
- Suite Algerienne, Op. 60 – Marche Militaire Française (4:41)
- Suite Algerienne, Op. 60 – Rêverie du Soir (4:29)
- Lola, Op. 116 – Tango (4:47)
- Elégie, Op. 160 (5:46)
- Rhapsodie d’Auvergne, Op. 73 (10:28)
- Bénédiction Nuptiale, Op. 9 (5:30)
- Barcarolle: Une Nuit à Lisbonne, Op. 63 (4:42)
- Souvenir d’Italie, Op. 80 – Barcarolle (9:21)
- Paraphrase sur La Islena de Paladilhe (6:56)
- Fantasie sur l’hymne national russe (1:58)
- Africa, Op. 89 (12:15)
Reviews
“This is an auspicious and impressive beginning to a series devoted to Saint-Saens’s piano music. All [the pieces] are well crafted, and many are technically quite demanding.
” —James Harrington
“An excellent and genuinely important recording of Saint-Saëns’ piano works provides a heretofore unavailable chance to hear just how good Saint-Saëns’ solo-piano music is and to muse about its longstanding neglect. The first two-disc volume places Saint-Saëns firmly in the pantheon of Romantic-era compositional virtuosity.
” —Mark J. Estren
“Exceptional release…: it would be difficult to imagine finer or more insightful interpretative performances than these. The individuality and approach of the French master is consistently revealed in these engrossing accounts.
”
“Enterprising and marvellously played set. [Gray] is a dramatic pianist… full bloodied and committed approach, aiming for drama, character and energy. Lots to enjoy here and roll on volume 2.
” —Rob Challinor
“We must be grateful to Antony Gray for having designed this eclectic, original and interesting program, insofar as it paints a varied pianistic portrait of the composer covering several musical fields. His interpretation is warm, involved and attentive to the works’ textures. It sheds additional light on this prolific creator and the diversity of his inspiration.”
” —Jean Lacroix
Sound: 8.5 Booklet: 10 Repertoire: 9 Interpretation: 9
“Irresistible music, superbly played. Much of Saint-Saëns’ output is cruelly undervalued, so the musical world owes Antony Gray a debt for reminding us that a cornucopia of delights awaits the listener. Unmissable.
” —Colin Clarke
“A number of first recordings of Saint-Saëns music, introducing a large body of keyboard gems to a new audience. These albums [vols 1 & 2] are a fitting tribute to a composer whose music remains unfashionable, underrated and long overdue for reappraisal.
” —John Pitt
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