Saint-Saëns - Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 22 (Rubinstein)

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. 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."

🇫🇷 Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (1868)

00:00 Andante sostenuto (in G minor and sonata form)
The concerto begins with a piano solo playing a long improvisational introduction in the style of a Bach fantasia. 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 libitum cadenza. The Bach-like opening motif returns in the coda.

13:06 Allegro scherzando (in E♭ major and sonata form)
The second movement is in E♭ 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.

19:33 Presto (in G minor and sonata form)
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.

Performers:
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn

Artur Rubinstein, Artur also spelled Arthur, (born January 28, 1887, Łódź, Poland, Russian Empire—died December 20, 1982, Geneva, Switzerland), Polish American virtuoso pianist regarded by many as the 20th century’s foremost interpreter of the repertoire.