Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921): Cadenza for "Africa" op.89

Saint-Saëns is a well-known composer. In the nineteenth century he was also well-known as a virtuoso pianist, ranked alongside giants such as Liszt, Clara Schumann, Pugno, Pachmann, Planté, Grieg and Rubinstein. Fortunately, a few performances of his have been preserved on early records. These demonstrate a quite astounding virtuosity in the classic nineteenth century French style (crisp, cultured, refined, charming and without as much rubato as the German school).

Amazingly, even though he was getting quite old by the time he recorded, there is no apparent lack of technique or interpretative quality in the recordings (unlike, for example, and unfortunately, the recordings of his great contemporary Francis Planté).

The recordings of Saint-Saëns are important as Saint-Saëns has the honour of being the oldest pianist to record at all. Sadly he was restricted to mostly salon-style works in his recordings, and he only recorded his own works. What we would give for a little Liszt or Chopin...

This recording was made in 1904, and is of an improvised cadenza for his concertante work op.89 entitled "Africa". The playing is crisp and accurate to an astonishing degree.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Camille
• Saint-Saëns
• classical
• recording
• piano
• africa
• cadenza
• op.89
• improvisation

[joernbroeker]

actually, carl reinecke is the oldest pianist to record at all (*1824)

[d60944]

Reinecke's legacy are piano rolls, not recordings.

[pianopera]

This is really amazing. Not only crisp, cultured and charming with tremendous virtuosity but also a lot of passion! It must come close to Liszt's improvisations on opera's.

[gnolti]

Easily the best early clip by one of the masters. A treasure.

[Jupiterlibertas]

Fantastic!!! 

[jonpianonelson]

As a musician I have always known that Camille Saint-Saens was a truly amazing composer.

However, I was totally unprepared to hear what I just heard.

I think the person who speaks immediately after the piano stops playing is probaly saying the same thing as I said (albeit in another tongue)

FUCKING AMAZING. In awe.

[MrPlanx]

Franz Liszt once said that he felt like a small child just learning to play when he was confronted by the incredible talent of Saint Saens.

[OrangeSodaKing]

Oh my goodness! He was a tremendous pianist!

[SevenCircles]

@zito22zito22

He would propably run out of tape if he played it slower, the recording technology was very limited back then.

[gerardbedecarter]

This is a fascinating historical recording!

[kaleidoscopio2006]

who speaks after he finish the work?saint saens himself?

[vvsivakumar]

Thank you for posting this. Amazing sound for a 1904 recording.

[zito22zito22]

yeah besides the fact that this isn't improvisation at all...

But it is sooo fast!!! Like.... I have this on my iPod, the exact same piece, and it lasts 9 minutes... I don't know piano realy much but as a violin player, I'd say what my teacher would say... YOU DON'T BREATH ENOUGH! XD

[candidnt]

I intended to have this on in the background while I worked, but I was completely taken immediately...and at 0:40 I realized I wasn't breathing. This is perfectly controlled but overflowing with creativity and passion. I am in awe.