Description

Given Saint-Saëns' talents as both a pianist and composer, it was natural that he would engage with the piano concerto genre early on. However, he clearly renounced the "concerto brilliant" style that was dominant in France at the time, declaring instead that "the solo part of a concerto must be set out, and treated, like a dramatic role." He realized this "symphonic concerto" concept in his Second Piano Concerto, composed in 1868. The solo part is technically very challenging, yet closely integrated with the orchestra. Johannes Umbreit is responsible for the piano reduction, based on the composer's own two-piano version, while Pascal Rogé provides the fingerings for the solo part.