Alexandre Kantorow, the pianist on this recording, has received high praise, with one critic calling him 'Liszt reincarnated' and another 'The young Tsar of the piano'.
Composer Biography
Saint-Saëns was considered the most famous French musician internationally during his lifetime, acclaimed across North and South America, the Middle East, and major European capitals.
Performer Biography
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, the conductor, began playing violin at age 6 and won a first prize at the prestigious Paris Conservatoire at 14.
Composer Biography
Camille Saint-Saëns was a composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, and teacher, as well as an archaeologist, astronomer, botanist, philosopher, and keen traveler.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in September 2016 and January/February 2018 at the Tapiola Concert Hall in Finland, using microphones from Neumann, DPA, and Schoeps.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Despite living through much of the 19th century, Saint-Saëns was not a true Romantic; he admired Bach and Mozart and preferred formal balance and moderation over expressivity.
Composition History
Saint-Saëns founded the Société nationale de musique in 1871 to support chamber music in France, which was then dominated by opera.
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