Camille Saint-Saëns - Piano Concertos (Anna Malikova)

Information

Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns

CD1:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 17: I. Andante - Allegro assai
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 17: II. Andante sostenuto quasi adagio
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 17: III. Allegro con fuoco
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: I. Andante sostenuto
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: II. Allegro scherzando
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22: III. Presto
7. Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44: I. Allegro moderato - Andante
8. Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44: II. Allegro vivace - Andante - Allegro

CD2:

1. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 29: I. Moderato assai - Più mosso (Allegro maestoso)
2. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 29: II. Andante
3. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 29: III. Allegro non troppo
4. Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major "The Egyptian", Op. 103: I. Allegro animato
5. Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major "The Egyptian", Op. 103: II. Andante - Allegretto tranquillo quasi andantino
6. Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major "The Egyptian", Op. 103: III. Molto allegro

Anna Malikova, piano
WDR Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Sanderling, conductor
Date: 2003
Label: Audite
https://www.audite.de/en/product/2SACD/91650-saint_saens_complete_piano_concertos_malikova_sanderling_wdr_so.html

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Review

Every review I have seen of a complete set of the Saint-Saëns piano concertos comments on the surprising lack of wider appeal to performers and audiences of this music for all but the Piano Concerto No. 2. I can only add my voice to the choir; this is all wonderful music. The variety of texture, mood, and dramatic structure is really quite remarkable, and the technical quality of the writing ranks with the best of the 19th century. The music does not have the depth of Beethoven and Brahms, it is true, but it is certainly not cold or overly showy. I am especially fond of the Piano Concerto No. 1, with its beautifully prominent writing for the horn. Saint-Saëns got the bum rap in his own day, and continues to in our time, but it is not deserved. 

The question becomes not whether or not to own a recording of this music, but which set to buy. Classic recordings by Rogé and Collard are available on budget reissues, and the king of the heap, both interpretively and in terms of expense, is Stephen Hough’s 2002 transversal as a part of Hyperion’s massive Romantic Piano Concerto survey. There are few pianists on the scene today who match his magical combination of virtuosity, elegance, and insight. That said, I am quite smitten by this new release. Anna Malikova is a late product of the mighty Soviet music-making machine, although the empire was crumbling just as she was graduating from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1991, where she studied with Lev Naumov. Her playing is bold and colorful, very attuned to the character of the music, which some (including myself) consider hallmarks of the Russian school of pianism. I would have to concede the last degree of nimbleness to Hough, and his set does include another 15 minutes of Saint-Saëns bonbons. But Malikova’s playing is a bit more, well, playful, making this a highly seductive collection. The regional German orchestra plays beautifully under the direction of Thomas Sanderling. Yes, he is the son of Kurt Sanderling, the great German-born conductor who spent most of his career in Russia, where Thomas was born. 

The icing on the cake, always with the Audite label, is the recorded sound, which is robust yet naturally balanced. I can really hear the advantage of SACD sound when listening to Audite releases, although the audio is nearly as good on standard CD playback. 

-- Peter Burwasser, FANFARE

More reviews:
Vol. 1 - Nos. 1, 2 & 4 on ClassicsToday ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10
Vol. 2 - Nos. 3 & 5 on ClassicsToday ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10
http://www.allmusic.com/album/saint-sa%C3%ABns-the-piano-concertos-mw0001991992
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Piano-Concerto-Hybr-Saint-Saens/dp/B0036FVVIQ

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Camille Saint-Saëns (9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era. His best-known works include his concertos for violin, piano and cello, his 3rd symphony, Danse macabre and The Carnival of the Animals. Saint-Saëns was a musical prodigy, making his concert debut at the age of ten. He held only one teaching post for less than five years. His students included Gabriel Fauré.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Saint-Sa%C3%ABns

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Anna Malikova (born 14 July 1965 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan) is an Uzbek pianist. She studied with Tamara A. Popovich at Uspensky Music School, and with Lev Naumov at Tchaikovsky Conservatory. After winning the 1st Prize at ARD Competition Munich she began to perform worldwide. Today she plays in recitals and with orchestra, gives master classes and judges in competitions in Armenia, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, and South America.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Malikova

http://www.malikova.com/

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