Emil Gilels plays Saint-Saens Concerto No. 2 (1/4)

[THEmusicgurl98]

@truecrypt - thanks!

[THEmusicgurl98]

where is part 2?

[truecrypt]

@THEmusicgurl98

/watch?v=0aXzJQ3_mt0

[curzmg]

The passage from 1:56 onwards makes me break down like a small child, it is hard to top the pure Romantic passion that it epitomises. Those falling thirds are... There are just no words, I physically cannot express what those do to me.

[oncexist]

@curzmg

neither does the composer.

[HSEHL]

lovely

[ragudicarne]

I didn't know about this recording and as far as Emil is the performer I am happy ! ..but Iprefer the one with Clujtyens ..the first mov is much more intense and dramatic!!

[jayjay1972]

@billyguns2.....pseudo "French salon" style??......

[ComradeKomaron]

is such pity that there is not a way to see Richter playing this. In the short klip it appears so brilliant

[Miricene]

I disagree. Saint Saens and his concerts, especially this one, are very well known (not on the part of the great public, of course, but by people who knows about listening to good music) and it has been widely recorded. I have got it in four recordings and the one I like the most is by Cecile Ousset. A different thing is the vulgarization of music even to be hummed by people who does neither know nor matter what and by whom the works are (as happened to Beethoven or Mozart's works).

[gerryrains]

This is, IMHO, one of the most underrated piano concerti in the literature. And this is a terrific performance of it.

[wolfgango1991]

uno dei miei concerti preferiti!

[calibardo]

hai ragione! E anche gli altri concerti sono bellissimi! Ma anche TUTTA l'altra musica di Saint Saens è bellissima e misconosciuta, specialmente quella da camera e le opere!

[TomBarristerX]

@calibardo I agree.  Saint-Saens is terribly underrated and unappreciated.

[billyguns2]

This is the best realization I have ever heard of this magnificent concerto. Gilels treats it with respect and seriousness, and the music gains immeasurably; so many opt for some kind of pseudo "French salon" style, thereby trivializing the music. Oh, and by the way, Gilels is technically stunning here; when he was good, he was very VERY good!

[gempiano]

Stunning!

[kedlubajz]

Saint-Saens is truely one of the most underestimated composers. Even if this would be his only master piece, he deserve to stay unforgotten forever for it. It´s fully comparable to the best piano concertos of Tchajkovskij or Rachmaninov. And - of course - vivat Gilels :-)

[gnimez]

@kedlubajz I won't think Saint-Saens is underestimated at all, he is renowned as a multi-disciplinary genius, especially in music. but I agree his concertos are truly awesome.

[JohnEBProductions]

@kedlubajz I know this was a year ago haha, sorry.

I think that Saint-Saens music has a drifting, improvisatory feeling to it that really damages it. I think that he definitely has a place in the music world, but his concertos don't compare to those by Rachmaninoff and Tschaikovsky

[RemovdSande11]

@kedlubajz

He is unknown with the big audience but he is not underrestimated by critics and connoisseurs. In fact he is regarded as one the most gifted composers of his time. Some critics compared his musical potential with that of Bach.

[curzmg]

@RemovdSande11 I'd say he is underestimated or at least under appreciated by even the classical community. I mean it is pretty hard to see this live, I have never come across a performance I could get to in my whole life. Even if you find one it is usually in the most random place by someone you have never heard of. I mean I just looked on bachtrack, there are a couple in Leipzig and that's it. It is very sad, I would love to see this on Lisitsa's regular repertoire.

[SSSLAWWWA]

Maybe it's even better than his record with Cluytens in Paris in 1955.

[Ellinidara]

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[yeh1216]

It's amazing that he wrote 5 piano concertos and all of them are romantic, beautiful and perfect. Well, actually my favorite Sanit Saens piano concerto is No.3.

[thunder1909]

Is Kirill Kondrashin still alive?

[fluterampal]

Kondrašin; March 6 , 1914 March 7 , 1981

[billyguns2]

No, I vividly remember the day he died in the year 1981.

[lanarv]

@thunder1909

no, he is not alive..died in 1981

[landolfiviolin1]

@lanarv  Not 1981, but 1986, I was in his Funeral in moscow!!

[lanarv]

@landolfiviolin1

^-)..you know what..he died October 14..1985 THEY say..

..Have just checked it..

[girgiii]

I prefer Rubinstein's recording of the Concerto. He even played it once in the presence of Sain-Saens himself. Unfortunately I don't know what was the response of the composer:(

[TomBarrister]

This was from a November 5, 1948 recording with the Moscow State Orchestra.

[Toxxic88]

Wow, I had never heard of Saint-Saens' works before, and this is such a beautiful find! Thanks, I will be checking out other works by him now. *****

[kangooil]

Try 3rd symphony (Organ), amazing 4th movent!

[dawoodsta]

Danse Macabre is what I recommend.

[traffic70]

1st cello concerto

[Sinfoniette]

Danse Bacchanale, anyone?