Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5, 'The Egyptian'

Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski continues his critically acclaimed piano concertos series on Linn Records with a ‘spectacular’ (Bachtrack) live recording of Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5, both performed at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with Thomas Søndergård conducting the colourful and energetic Royal Scottish National Orchestra. It took Saint-Saëns just seventeen days to compose the Second Concerto and practice for the premiere under the baton of Anton Rubinstein! A feat as impressive as the quality of the work itself whose well-balanced movements look back on Fauré and Bach. The Fifth Concerto is the composer’s answer to Wagner mania. Indeed, the work can almost be taken as a hint to his compatriots that there were plenty of other sources of inspiration available, such as the Nubian love song that Saint-Saëns had heard sung by boatmen on the Nile and the sound of croaking frogs, which feature in the second movement and give the work its title: ‘The Egyptian’. This Concerto is a showcase of virtuosity for both composer and pianist.