Antony Gray - Camille Saint-Saëns: Works for Piano, Vol. 2 (2022)

Saint-Saëns excelled as a composer, conductor, pianist and organist – his composition output is enormous, reaching over 160 titles of which many are substantial – operas, ballets, symphonies – yet today much of his work remains neglected and he is known by a few works only: the Organ Symphony, Samson et Dalila, Danse Macabre and Carnival of the Animals. His original piano pieces are generally light ‘salon’ works but are nonetheless delightful and well formed. His major contribution to the piano works is the equally neglected body of transcriptions (of his own works and those of others) where he was sadly eclipsed by the more outgoing and promotion-minded Franz Liszt. This album and its companion include a number of first recordings, introducing a large body of keyboard gems to a new audience. Volume 1 is divided into two sections: transcriptions from Opera and Ballet, and pieces inspired by specific places.

Tracklist
Disc 1 (01:02:33)
1. Le déluge, Op. 45: Prelude (Arr. for Piano Solo) (06:57)
2. Serenade in E-Flat Major, Op. 15, R. 114 (Version for Piano Solo) (04:29)
3. Hymne de la fête de Pâques (After Berlioz's H. 111) (07:34)
4. Album de Gauloises: No. 16, Improvisation (02:36)
5. Chant du soir (After R. Schumann's, Op. 85 No. 12)[Version for Piano Solo] (03:02)
6. Improvisation sur la Beethoven-Cantate (After Liszt's S. 68) (16:09)
7. 2 Bagatelles: No. 1, — (03:29)
8. 2 Bagatelles: No. 2, — (02:29)
9. Berceuse in E Major, Op. 105, R. 63 (Arr. I. Philipp for Piano Solo) (03:14)
10. Paraphrase sur "Gallia" (After Gounod's CG 40) (12:34)

Disc 2 (01:00:30)
1. 2 Fantaisies écrites pour le luth (After L. Milán): No. 1 in D Major (03:31)
2. 2 Fantaisies écrites pour le luth (After L. Milán): No. 2 in G Minor (03:57)
3. Ouverture de la 29e cantate d'église (After J.S. Bach's BWV 29) (04:02)
4. Adagio d'après la 3e cantate d'église (After J.S. Bach's BWV 3) (05:17)
5. Andantino d'après la 8e cantate d'église (After J.S. Bach's BWV 8) (05:56)
6. Bourrée de la 1e sonate de violon (After J.S. Bach's BWV 1002) (03:35)
7. Andante de la 2e sonate de violon (After J.S. Bach's BWV 1003) (05:33)
8. Presto de la 35e cantate d'église (After J.S. Bach's BWV 35) (03:45)
9. Introduction et air de la 15e cantate d'église (After J.S. Bach's BWV 15) (02:51)
10. Fugue de la 3e sonate de violon (After J.S. Bach's BWV 1005) (07:39)
11. Largo de la 3e sonate de violin (After J.S. Bach's BWV 1005) (03:23)
12. Recitatif et air de la 30e cantate (After J.S. Bach's BWV 30) (02:20)
13. Gavotte de la 3e sonate de violon (After J.S. Bach's BWV 1006) (03:07)
14. Air de la 36e cantate (After J.S. Bach's BWV 36) (02:57)
15. Choeur de la 30e cantate (After J.S. Bach's BWV 30) (02:37)