I am 65 and I heard this for the first time last Saturday when Sir Stephen Hough played the Second Movement at the Last Night of the Proms. That I have gone all these years without ever hearing it is testament to how underrated and how rarely played it is. What a shame. It's gorgeous.
Wow!!!!!!! What a performance! Those folks were really cooking with gas! Their enjoyment of the music showed through both visually and musically. Saint-Saens ("the French Brahms") occupies a special place in 19th century European music, and rightfully so. Being a violinist, perhaps I'm prejudiced--he wrote three violin concertos, plus several outstanding pieces for violin and orchestra--but i hope that the music of Saint-Saens will be with us for a very long time. He took the best of the French temperament, and combined it with classical form to produce masterpieces.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet is truly a master on this masterpiece; he brings the passion to his teacher Aldo Ciccolini's precision. This is an unrivaled performance.
The Egyptian Concerto has not been ignored, except maybe by you. I'm just happy that you didn't use the word "underrated." I agree with you that this is a wonderful concerto, and that this performance is very exciting.
John Fugazzi sadly underrated and ignored. I'm glad Thibaudet loves it. He played it with L A Philharmonic last Fall. First time I've ever had a chance to hear it live
Yes, there are many others, but there is also no particular need to "keep looking" either. If one were stuck on a desert isle and could only listen to one composer, SS would do nicely. I personally think that there has never been a more epic symphony than the Organ Symphony. I cannot stop marveling at Saint-Saens either Maina ; ) @@Handbasketification
I agree about C.S-S. being underrated. Very curious how the winds of fame blow vehemently for some, moderately for others, and lightly or not at all for others.
@@davidjared3402 He was very establishment during his career, and music critics at the time were reluctant to be moved by an academic. He came into greater acclaim after WW2 and is now recognized for his facility with musical scoring and development.
@@paulbeard4218 Please read my comment carefully. I stated that Thibaudet was the best interpreter of Ravel's works. I wasn't referring to the Saint-Saens recording in this video.
Cette version un peu ancienne reste pour moi la version de référence. Orchestre et pianiste parfaits, des nuances qu'on ne retrouve pas ailleurs. Insurpassable...❤
Exciting and exquisite. I came to Saint-Saëns decades ago via _Samson et Dalila_ and the _Symphony No. 3 ('Organ')_ which are two repositories both of gorgeous tunes and wonderful drama. The concerti and chamber works are lesser known, of course, but what fabulous revelations they hold. The composer was a renowned pianist and one can imagine he would have torn over the keys much as Jean-Yves did. France really has given the world some wonderful composers, hasn't she?
Thank you for posting this superb performance of this irresistible masterpiece by Saint-Saens. All of the piano concerti are extraordinary works and a joy to listen to. Saint-Saens is a composer that rewards repeated listening and delivers great joy to any attentive listener. He has left us a treasured legacy in all genres.
His organ symphony is my favorite of all orchestral compositions, slightly edging out Beethoven's Eroica. Dvorak's New World Symphony is a close third.
Saint-Saens is so underrated -- his piano concertos are just as good as any of the other 19th century romantic composers, but he gets way less play. And of course, there are all his other wonderful works, from tone poems to operas and the great organ symphony.
Love this concerto where the expert and the neophyte together lose their guard to just an amazing musical ride! The three movements would mesmerize even the most reluctant of us! Et Saint-Saëns vivait parmi les étoiles et donc était très à l'aise parmi elles.
A Supreme piece of tone painting which demands, especially in the slow movement, the most integrated musicianship, as in this performance, from soloist and orchestra. What a marvellous display of Saint-Saens' orchestration genius
This is the best St. Saen's piano concerto no. 5 I have ever heard or seen. Thibudet is one genius! The conductor is very excellent in expressing what needs to be emphasized throughout this complicated yet so very beautiful flow of heavenly music! Thumbs way up! Thank God for RU-vid that we can enjoy music that transforms lives! Truly grateful for the one who posted this performance! :--) Thank YOU!
This is exceptional! I don't normally like piano concertos, but this one is gentle, syncopated, is both allegro and adagio, and is rich in textures! I LOVE IT!
Thank you so much for posting this breathtaking concerto by Saint Saens. I fell in love with his concerto #2 when I was very young, but I think I like this even better. Thibaudet's performance is absolutely brilliant. He makes other versions seem flat by comparison.
Jean-Yves Thibaudet interprète toujours trop bien Debussy, Ravel, Satie, etc...et là encore, c'est impeccable ! Oui, c'est magnifique tout simplement !
I don't know where that man finds the energy to play a song like that for 25 minutes without his wrists burning up!? Absolutely stunning performance! :O
Classic music nerds would get mad when you call it a song 😂, I agree it's damn hard, give Brahms 2nd concerto a try. Or Celibidache (conductor)when he was really old and conducted Bruckner 8th Symphony for 1:40 hours without a score, he knew it by heart
This concerto is a delight for pianists: cheerful, optimistic, healthy, inventive, full of fantasy when it is a matter of evoking Orient (at 11'40 is the strange musical effect by spacing the two hands by two octaves and one tone between??) and also with an infectious wild energy in the third movement especially when hammered by JYT. A big cheer also for the orchestra and his conductor.
Je découvre à 77 ans la musique géniale de Saint Saens. Quel plaisir d'écouter les concertos pour piano et les symphonies, un vrai régal. Il est vrai que nous sommes saturés par les musiciens germaniques (excellents de toutes façons) alors qu'il y a tant de talents francais à faire connaître.
Acabo de cumplir 69 años, y acabo de descubir el concierto nº 5 de S.Saens, le recomiendo que escuche su concierto nº4 es muy bueno también, pero dicho concierto lo he escuchado desde hace muchps años. El más famoso es el nº 2.
1835-1921. One of the pioneers of French music. His symphonic poems alone are forward thinking. And who can forget his 3rd Symphony, or this concerto for that matter.
Which is also admirable is how some composers achieve such originality in their music. Saint-Saëns has undoubtedly that virtue as well as Rachmaninov: no way to make confusion with any other musician of their time. All five piano concertos are so special and original and so Rachmaninov's.
Je viens d'entendre une partie de ce concerto sur Mezzo ; je ne le connaissais pas du tout, heureusement qu'on a donné les références à la fin de l'extrait car j'aurais été tellement désolée de ne pas pouvoir l'écouter encore et encore ! Merci ! Comme dit Mick Dunn, j'ai adoré le pianiste, le chef, l'orchestre et bien sûr ce concerto ! Mais quel bonheur !
I play this piece and love it so much, and until now I haven't found a recording I loved. I do love this one though, everything from the mic balance to this amazing textures that come out of this wonderful collaboration. This piece is not as egotistical as most piano concertos, it's such a beautiful work of music. Absolutely wonderful performance. Thibaudet will always be one of the greatest.
I LOVE this concerto (and no 4 just as much)...i think they are absolute masterpieces and brilliantly orchestrated...this is a great performance, but I would love to hear Martha and Alicia play it also...
Always been a fan of Saint-Saens, and the piano concerti are all very strong works. This one has been a favorite of mine for years and is a welcome relief from the many performances of Brahms, Rachmaninov, etc. One has to be able to play very differently to bring this work off successfully. The last movement is just spectacular, one of the great finales of all piano concerti. And, yes, this piece is rarely done in concert. A real shame.
+Bob Cochran I hope you're aware of the amazing Moszkowski #3, and the Paderewski? Delius and Vaughn Williams also...and the lovely little concerto by Rimsky-Korsakov..no need to remain trapped in Germany. Try Josef Marx's "Romantic", too - he was Austrian, I think...
Acabo de descubrir este concierto nº5, el final es muy bueno. También el concierto anterior nº 4 el final también es magnifico. El final del Rachmaninov los nº2 y 3 son muy espectaculares.
Absolutely stunning! I loved the conductor's enthousiasm, Mr. Thibaudet's intimate and accurate dialogue with the orchestra end, truly, when Liszt said that St Saens the best pianist in the world was, he was right. This should be played much more, it's irresistible.
A great video! The passion filled conductor, from Latvia, is the new leader of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This whole adventure in a great sounding hall, one of the greatest orchestras, a fine pianist, and super sound. The tempo seemed at the speed Saint-Saens might have played it. The audience always likes to be on the edge. This has it!
+Bill Sullivan Saint-Saens was considered one of the great piano artists of his time. He premiered all of his piano concertos. The #5 was nicknamed the "Egyptian" because he composed it in Luxor, Egypt. He was a world traveler. Many of his themes are sounds that he heard on his journeys. Native songs, croaking frogs, ship propellers, and any other sounds that he could put to music fascinated him. He lived some years in Algeria. For his time many of his themes would have been considered very exotic. An exciting composer that is very under played.
Absoluter Weltklasse-Pianist ohne Star-Allüren. Wie er das 2. Thema im ersten Satz spielt gehört zu den Highlights in der Klassik-Szene. Dieser Pianist müsste noch bekannter sein.
I can't stop playing this - listen to it at least 10 times a day. As well as loving the music and the pianist, this is my favorite Conductor. Thank you for uploading this.
I can't understand why the Saint-Seans piano concertos are not performed more often, particularly nos. 3,4 and 5. IMO they are the equal to any other, yes and I do mean Beethoven, Mozart etc. No5 is my favourite, wonderful!
Probably because many pianists move beyond the cover of the standards. God help them if they had to learn something different. Although much of the blame can be put at the feet of music directors.
JYT is brilliant. The entire ensemble bringing out the richness and beauty of this neglected piece of SS. So much happening in the orchestral as SS reached his #5. Gorgeous rich conducting. Everyone looks to be having a marvelous time .
Je n'avais jamais entendu ce concerto...quelle inventivité de St Saens, quelle richesse d'harmonies, de sensibilité, de virtuosité de la part de JY Thibaudet qui en a l'habitude paraît-il bien qu'il soit maintenant très profond dans les parties plus sensibles des oeuvres... comme ici.
Incontestablement le meilleur concerto du compositeur, invention et atmosphère, trouvailles mélodiques, harmonisation réussie, orchestration qui s'enroule autour du piano et vice-versa, en une sorte de thyrse où rien n'est superflu et tout est sensible comme rarement chez Saint-Saens...Thibaudet y montre une maestria formidable. Une référence.
This is one of Saint Saens greatest compositions. I listen to this often and I always select Jean-Yves Thibaudet to hear his performance. This is a great orchestra. The conductor is fabulous, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs marvelously. I enjoyed Jean-Yves Thibaudet's interview when he discussed when he met Arthur Rubenstein who inspired him. To Jean-Yves Thibaudet: Rubinstein looks upon you fondly from celestial portals in the afterlife very fondly as your performances make him proud.
I agree on great comments here; saw it performed live in San Francisco back in the mists of time, ran to buy a good recording. As myself in the Arts, (visual and music history), composed in 1868, I imagine this piece was affected in the artist's mind in the pending event of disasterous war between Germany and France around 1870. Why Egyptian, not a clue: but I hear the tension musically affecting the artist emotionally; moments of calm hit by the abrupt unknowing score of an amnesia of angst. Truly Masterful!!!
