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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | The Romantic Violin Concerto 1 - Saint-Saëns
“The first two violin concertos of Saint-Saëns were composed in reverse order. The Second is the longer and lesser-known of the two, but the First Concerto more resembles the thematic charm and concise design of the First Cello Concerto. Cast in a single short movement that falls into three distinct sections, it launches the soloist on his way right from the start, and features a delightful central section with some felicitous woodwind writing. Hyperion holds a trump card in Philippe Graffin, whose elegant, emotionally charged playing is strongly reminiscent of the young Menuhin, and whose understanding of the idiom is second to none – certainly among modern players.
Saint-Saëns's First Violin Concerto was composed in 1859, whereas his Second preceded it by a year. Unexpectedly, the first movement's thematic material has an almost Weberian slant. The orchestration is heavier than in the First, and the musical arguments are both more formal and more forcefully stated. It's a more overtly virtuoso work than the First Concerto, and perhaps rather less memorable, but again Graffin weaves a winsome solo line and Martyn Brabbins directs a strong account of the orchestral score, with prominently projected woodwinds. The relatively well-known Third Concerto (1880) is roughly the same length as the Second (around half an hour), but is more consistently interesting. The basic material is of higher quality, the key relations more telling and orchestration infinitely more delicate. No other recording liberates so much of the score's instrumental detail, probably because most of Graffin's predecessors have been balanced way in front of the orchestra.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “Graffin, with rich firm tone, gives performances full of temperament, warmly supported by Martin Brabbins and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the recording cannot be faulted.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Saint-Saëns: Complete Violin Concertos
Saint-Saëns: | Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Major Op. 20 Violin Concerto No. 2 in C Major Op. 58 La Muse et le Poète, Op. 132 with Ralph Kirschbaum (cello) Valse-caprice (arr. Ysaÿe) Romance in C major, Op. 48, for violin and orchestra Romance in D flat major, Op. 37 Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 Havanaise, Op. 83 Morceau de concert in G major, Op. 62, for violin and orchestra Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28 Caprice andalou, Op. 122 Prélude to Le Deluge Op. 45 |
Camille Saint-Saëns was a child prodigy, who amazed both Berlioz and Liszt with his extraordinary talent for performance (as a virtuoso pianist) and composition. His Symphony No.1 in A was performed when he was just 15 years old, and was followed by a succession of beautifully crafted works in all genres – concertos (5 for piano, 3 for violin and 2 for cello) and a total of five symphonies, plus a large chamber and operatic output. All his works reveal a cast-iron grip of classical form and balance, while his orchestration displays clarity and colour. His approach to the concerto, whether for his own instrument or the violin or cello, was often innovative and always idiomatic. The earliest of the Violin Concertos is the little known No.2 from 1858, influenced by Mendelssohn’s famous concerto for the same instrument, with a fully written out candenza that, beginning with the timpani, gradually brings the full orchestra back into play. The Violin Concerto No.1 was the next to follow, a short elegant work of just over 17 minutes, composed for the 15-year-old virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. The Spanish violinist was also the dedicatee of the 3rd and most famous of the concertos - full of wonderful tunes, drama and passion, this is one of the great concertos of the violin repertoire. This 2CD release contains the three concertos, as well as all of the composer’s other works for violin and orchestra. The famous Introduction and Rondo capriccioso and the mini concerto for violin, cello (with Ralph Kirschbaum) and orchestra La Muse et la Poete are featured, along with lesserknown works including the unfinished 4th Concerto’s opening movement Morceau de concert, which is comparable to the Symphony No.3 in the strength and brilliance of its melodies. “Ulf Hoelscher has the technique and artistry to take full advantage of this in terms of bravura display and, even better, in the soft and gentle sections...
It is however the music even more than the playing which makes this an irresistible set...yet another winner from Brilliant’s constantly satisfying series of reissues.” MusicWeb International, August 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Saint-Saëns: Violin Concertos Nos. 1-3
Once dubbed ‘the French Mendelssohn’, Camille Saint-Saëns was a prodigiously gifted composer of sophisticated and appealing music much of which has been unjustly neglected in recent times. His three highly inventive and technically demanding violin concertos, of which the Second is arguably the most memorable and the Third the best known, abound in unforgettable melodies and expressive subtleties. The young Parisian violinist Fanny Clamagirand, who won First Prize at the 2005 Fritz Kreisler Competition in Vienna and First Prize at the 2007 Monte Carlo Violin Masters Competition, the competition of competition winners, is an ideal interpreter of this gorgeous French Romantic music. | | | (also available to download from $5.75) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Saint-Saëns: The Three Violin Concertos
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“The Second Concerto proves an expressive and undeservedly neglected gem in Kantorow's hands.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2007 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Saint-Saëns - Complete Works For Violin & Orchestra and Cello & Orchestra
Saint-Saëns: | Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Pierre Cao Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Major Op. 20 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Pierre Cao Caprice andalou, Op. 122 Hungarica Philharmonia, Pierre Cao Violin Concerto No. 2 in C Major Op. 58 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Pierre Cao Havanaise, Op. 83 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Pierre Cao Morceau de concert in G major, Op. 62, for violin and orchestra Hungarica Philharmonia, Reinhard Peters Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Pierre Cao Romance in C major, Op. 48, for violin and orchestra Hungarica Philharmonia, Reinhard Peters Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Louis de Froment Allegro Appassionato in B minor Op. 43 Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Louis de Froment Cello Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 119 Recklinghausen Westphalian Symphony Orchestra, Siegfried Landau |
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| |  | Saint-Saëns: Concertos
Saint-Saëns: | Le carnaval des animaux Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 Paul Tortelier (cello) Septet in E flat major for piano, trumpet, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass Op. 65 Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 Aldo Ciccolini (piano) Piano Quintet in A minor Op. 14 Etude en forme de valse Op. 52 No. 6 Aldo Ciccolini (piano) Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Major Op. 20 Ulf Hoelscher (violin) Violin Concerto No. 2 in C Major Op. 58 Ulf Hoelscher (violin) Etude en forme de valse Op. 52 No. 6 Romance in C major, Op. 48, for violin and orchestra Ulf Hoelscher (violin) Romance in D flat major, Op. 37 Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 Ulf Hoelscher (violin) La Muse et le Poète, Op. 132 Havanaise, Op. 83 Morceau de concert in G major, Op. 62, for violin and orchestra Introduction & Rondo capriccioso, Op. 28 Ulf Hoelscher (violin) Caprice andalou, Op. 122 Prélude to Le Deluge Op. 45 |
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