Piano Concertos (Nos. 1-5)

Camille Saint-Saëns

Recordings

Top Choice

Stephen Hough / Sakari Oramo / City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Early 2000s

Primary recommendation (Nos. 1-5). 'Fantastic sound.' 'Wonderful, clear playing,' wonderful virtuosity. 'Beautiful, immaculate,' and 'colorful'.

Also Worth Hearing

Jean-Marie Darré / Louis Fourestier / French Radio National Orchestra

Mid-50s

Nos. 1-5. 'A little bit more assertive and dramatic and powerful.' Mix of mono/stereo. 'Fantastic, just amazingly virtuosic'.

Emil Gilels / André Cluytens / Paris Conservatoire Orchestra

Mid-50s

No. 2 only. An excellent version. Gilels is 'fantastic in this recording,' a 'genius of virtuosity, but artistically as well'.