The Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor,
Op. 22 by
Camille Saint-Saëns was composed in 1868 and is probably Saint-Saëns' most popular
piano concerto. It was dedicated to Madame A. de Villers (née de Haber). At the première on 13 May the composer was the soloist and
Anton Rubinstein conducted the orchestra.[1] Saint-Saëns wrote the concerto in three weeks and had very little time to prepare for the première; consequently, the piece was not initially successful. The capricious changes in style provoked
Zygmunt Stojowski to quip that it "begins with
Bach and ends with
Offenbach."[2]
The piece follows the traditional form of three
movements but allows for more freedom in
tempo markings. Normally, the first movement is fast-paced, while the second is slower, but the first movement here is slow and the second movement has a
scherzo-like quality, resulting in a form resembling a typical four-movement symphony but lacking the first movement (a form also represented by
Beethoven'sMoonlight Sonata).
The concerto begins with a
piano solo playing a long
improvisational introduction in the style of a
Bachfantasia. After the
orchestra enters, the restless and
melancholy first theme is played, again by the piano solo. Saint-Saëns drew the theme from his student
Gabriel Fauré's abandoned Tantum ergo motet. A brief second theme appears, followed by a middle section of increasing degrees of animato. The main theme is recapitulated fortissimo and the soloist is given a long ad libitumcadenza. The Bach-like opening motif returns in the
coda.
The second movement is in E-flat major and, instead of being a typical
adagio, resembles a
scherzo. The mercurial piano part is marked leggieramente, and the two main themes are clever and light-hearted. The energetic, delicate personality of this particular movement is characteristic of Saint-Saëns' musical wit, most famously observable in Le Carnaval des Animaux.
The concerto concludes by returning to
G minor. Like the preceding movement, it moves quickly; this time the form is an extremely fast, fiery
saltarella, in sonata form, featuring a strong triplet figure. At presto speed, the orchestra and soloist rush tumultuously along, gaining volume and momentum and finishing in a whirlwind of G minor
arpeggios.
Georges Bizet wrote a transcription of the concerto for solo piano.
The concerto is featured in the 2020 film "
Nocturne".
Recordings
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano, London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Basil Cameron. 1947, report CD Naxos 2002,
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Sir
Eugene Goossens 1960, report CD Classica (Les introuvables) 2020 (
3e mouvement)
Arthur Rubinstein, piano, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor
Dimitri Mitropoulos (Live 19/04/1953). CD Guild Music 2009
Emil Gilels, piano, Orchestre de La Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conductor
André Cluytens. LP Columbia 11/1954, report SACD Praga 2013. Diapason d'or.
piano concerto n°4 S
Jeanne-Marie Darré, piano, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, conductor
Louis Fourestier, recorded 1955. Published as CD EMI Music France 1996[4]
^Larner, Gerald (2011). Pierné: Piano Concerto, Divertissements sure un Theme Pastoral, Suites from 'Ramuntcho,' Marche des petits solidest de plomb (CD).
Chandos Records. p. 5-6.
The Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor,
Op. 22 by
Camille Saint-Saëns was composed in 1868 and is probably Saint-Saëns' most popular
piano concerto. It was dedicated to Madame A. de Villers (née de Haber). At the première on 13 May the composer was the soloist and
Anton Rubinstein conducted the orchestra.[1] Saint-Saëns wrote the concerto in three weeks and had very little time to prepare for the première; consequently, the piece was not initially successful. The capricious changes in style provoked
Zygmunt Stojowski to quip that it "begins with
Bach and ends with
Offenbach."[2]
The piece follows the traditional form of three
movements but allows for more freedom in
tempo markings. Normally, the first movement is fast-paced, while the second is slower, but the first movement here is slow and the second movement has a
scherzo-like quality, resulting in a form resembling a typical four-movement symphony but lacking the first movement (a form also represented by
Beethoven'sMoonlight Sonata).
The concerto begins with a
piano solo playing a long
improvisational introduction in the style of a
Bachfantasia. After the
orchestra enters, the restless and
melancholy first theme is played, again by the piano solo. Saint-Saëns drew the theme from his student
Gabriel Fauré's abandoned Tantum ergo motet. A brief second theme appears, followed by a middle section of increasing degrees of animato. The main theme is recapitulated fortissimo and the soloist is given a long ad libitumcadenza. The Bach-like opening motif returns in the
coda.
The second movement is in E-flat major and, instead of being a typical
adagio, resembles a
scherzo. The mercurial piano part is marked leggieramente, and the two main themes are clever and light-hearted. The energetic, delicate personality of this particular movement is characteristic of Saint-Saëns' musical wit, most famously observable in Le Carnaval des Animaux.
The concerto concludes by returning to
G minor. Like the preceding movement, it moves quickly; this time the form is an extremely fast, fiery
saltarella, in sonata form, featuring a strong triplet figure. At presto speed, the orchestra and soloist rush tumultuously along, gaining volume and momentum and finishing in a whirlwind of G minor
arpeggios.
Georges Bizet wrote a transcription of the concerto for solo piano.
The concerto is featured in the 2020 film "
Nocturne".
Recordings
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano, London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Basil Cameron. 1947, report CD Naxos 2002,
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Sir
Eugene Goossens 1960, report CD Classica (Les introuvables) 2020 (
3e mouvement)
Arthur Rubinstein, piano, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor
Dimitri Mitropoulos (Live 19/04/1953). CD Guild Music 2009
Emil Gilels, piano, Orchestre de La Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conductor
André Cluytens. LP Columbia 11/1954, report SACD Praga 2013. Diapason d'or.
piano concerto n°4 S
Jeanne-Marie Darré, piano, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, conductor
Louis Fourestier, recorded 1955. Published as CD EMI Music France 1996[4]
^Larner, Gerald (2011). Pierné: Piano Concerto, Divertissements sure un Theme Pastoral, Suites from 'Ramuntcho,' Marche des petits solidest de plomb (CD).
Chandos Records. p. 5-6.