Louis Lortie, BBC Philharmonic & Edward Gardner - Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 4 (2018)

Having already mastered such French concertos as Poulenc’s on record, the French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie and Edward Gardner now explore with the BBC Philharmonic the vigorous and progressive world of Camille Saint-Saëns, offering the first of two volumes to contain his complete piano concertos.

The brilliance, virtuosity, and technical perfection of Louis Lortie’s playing encapsulate these unusual, yet exhilarating works. While the spirited, unconventional Concerto No. 1 centres round a slow movement consisting of a dialogue between the sober orchestra and virtuosic piano, the technical requirements of No. 2 are so high that Saint-Saëns himself after its premiere admitted that his fluent technique was not quite up to the challenge. Finally, the unusual form and mixed musical ideas of No. 4 make for a uniquely dramatic, passionate, and dream-like experience.

Tracklist
1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 17, R. 185: I. Andante - Allegro assai (11:00)
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 17, R. 185: II. Andante sostenuto, quasi adagio (07:15)
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 17, R. 185: III. Allegro con fuoco (06:28)
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, R. 190: I. Andante sostenuto (10:27)
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, R. 190: II. Allegro scherzando (05:36)
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, R. 190: III. Presto (06:27)
7. Piano Concerto No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 44, R. 197: Ia. Allegro moderato (03:47)
8. Piano Concerto No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 44, R. 197: Ib. Andante (07:17)
9. Piano Concerto No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 44, R. 197: IIa. Allegro vivace - Andante (06:20)
10. Piano Concerto No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 44, R. 197: IIb. Allegro (06:17)