The opening sounds like if Bach was a romantic composer.

I don't think most people realise just how hard this is to play well. It's a masterpiece for people with 18 fingers. Believe me. I've played it to concert level and it nearly killed me

The haters have to deal with the fact that Ravel liked this concerto. When asked which piece he recommended for studying orchestration, Ravel indicated this. I think of the naysayers complaining that this is an easy concerto as unmusical virtuosity lovers. Difficulty lovers! What would they say about Mozart or Haydn concertos then? Saint-Saëns did it exactly right, it’s practical to play fast, meaning it’s pianistic. In short, there’s no accounting for the taste and opinions of certain people... And those saying Saint-Saëns lacks a personality just haven’t realized he is the *elegant* one. This concerto is not revolutionary but all it wants to be is musical, expressive, elegant, enjoyable and correct, and it manages that much.

Ok, Saint-Saëns REALLY loved rapid arpeggios and rapid octaves.

1:15 what falls faster, a man or his shares?

Mr. Sokolov is one hell of a pianist

1:10 "The men stood by the sill, calmly, and waited for their turn to jump." A Tokyo Exchange Secretary.

This concerto is hidden gem of the piano concerto repertoire, its a shame it dosent get done more often.

I. Andante sostenuto: 0:00 II. Allegro scherzando: 11:44 III. Presto: 17:43

I love to come to the comments on KZfaq just to read people expressing in their own words their reactions and emotions when something this beautiful moves them.

Beginning at 10:03, I almost forget to breath, because this passage is so mesmerizing: quiet, elegant , beautiful, so fragile ,introspective, almost tragic.

Those who think this is Saint-Saens' only "accessible" piano concerto should check out the other four--seriously. They are all gems in their own way.

This concerto is absolutely wonderful.

The third movement is a masterpiece

11:38 that black screen is so powerful

My favourite thing about this concerto is the fact it's so clearly influenced by such a range of composers, it doesn't fall into a single category, but rather sucks in inspiration from all that which came before it

This is so different from what I used to hear. It has this sort of fantasy/magical feeling in the 1st mvt. It feels a bit uneasy though because you're hearing the flow of the music so differently from what you are used to.

The part at 2:40 is so incredibly beautiful.

Me during the first 10 second: "I can totally play this! This is my next piece." Me at any point afterward: "HA Dvorak it is."

First movement very Chopin-like in many places. Congratulations to the pianist for a beautiful performance.

Like, what, that coda is one of the best and hardest codas out there. It's incredibly beautiful

5:56 truly expressed a mastery of balance between weight and simplicity in my opinion.

I love how to screen dims with the final chords, I'm gonna watch the entire thing again just for that

Out of every concerto i've heard this one is something special

The harmony progression is amazing

Saint saens: Ima put all this notes like 9 of them Also saint saens: “oh dang we only have 5 fingers.... oh well they will figure it out”

I find the first movement extremely cathartic and satisfying to listen to.

The first movement is beautiful beyond description. The introduction sounds like a Bach Prelude. The main theme sounds like Schumann, and the second theme in B flat sounds like Chopin. Then the octaves following sounds like Liszt. The cadenza again sounds like Schumann. Then the beautiful Bach like motive reappears again, and the end sounds like Schumann again. I also hear some Tchaikovsky at some points. I can really say l this is some of the most beautiful music I have heard in my life.

I was about to sleep but then I literally fell in love with the first movement and now i just wanted to listen to this again amd again.

This is such a magnificent piece, that last movement is mesmerising! What a talented chap he was.

Thank you for doing everything right. Ads in between movements and those effects at the end of passages were cool. Love this.

Like the first light of dawn, this music opens your eyes to new promises and to all the wonders of nature. Evocative of powers beyond observation, these pieces pull the strings of the heart, attract nostalgia and awaken the loves, the skinned lives and torpor of the sleeping watchmen .. Sokolov is magnificent here!

Essayez vous-mêmes de jouer ce concerto avant de dire qu'il serait facile! Il ne casse pas de porcelaine, mais il en fait de tellement belle. Comme pianiste, je lui ai adressé un grand Merci. J'espère qu'il m'a entendu Là-Haut.

I like Grigory Sokolov plays Saint-Saëns - Piano Concerto2 so much!Because he is the most passionate! Some pianists are very fine, but not enough.

22:57, or rehearsal 7 of the third movement is the moment where I lose it. Those V4/2 chords ❤️❤️❤️ Just plain awesome

The best version of this concert! Grande Sokolov!!!👍👍

Wow, having Sokolov play in this recording is a great treat in itself. I admire his execution of the 2nd movement which shows in certain areas some old fashioned, old school restraint instead of the typical "let's throw all cautions to the wind" bravura playing. I am definitely satisfied with this recording. Thank you for this, thank you for showing the score (my first time to actually see a copy of this concerto in "print"), and thank you for posting it.

One of my favorite concerts ever :)

I like how you dim the video at the concluding chords of each movement. Thanks for the upload!

Wow, the 3rd movement just doesn’t stop moving does it!

that ending.. so impressive thank you so much!!

Гениально , Маэстро👏👏👏👏

Just love Saint Saens' character at 12:57 and 13:12 😊

I have had many executions with this concerto, I think this is really among the finest. The pianist really plays with force and expression, and the orchestra is very good.

Très belle œuvre jouée avec une technique remarquable, sensibilité sensibilité sans fadeur. Parfait contrôle des plans sonores. Tout y est . Remarquable en tout point .

I personally find 6.30 genius. How the early theme is moved from the piano to the orchestra and piano just being in perfect harmony playing those octaves. Gorgeus Music!

Great composition. Light and dark.

Saint-Saëns ... wow... what an amazing Piano Concerto you composed!! I never thought you have this kind of stunning ability to compose such a high quality piece of music.

Je sais qu'il y a des quantités astronomiques de bons concertos. Mais là on tient vraiment un chef d'oeuvre de composition et d'écriture. A écouter sans modération, c'est une merveille.

Magnifique.

One of my favorite saint saëns works, all of his piano concertos are wonderful but I specifically like this and 5

very beautiful piano concerto👏🏻

So beautiful

First movement is beautiful

Excellent!!!!

Absolutely amazing!

Bravo bravo bravo brilliance super grandiose genial fantastic music concerto

WOW !!! Bravo👏👏👏

17:41 is the inspiration for Etude for Ghosts from Mother 3

maravilloso.un desafio para los mejores pianistas, el segundo movimiento tiene una melodia muy hermosa .me emociono cuando escucho esta obra de arte....

This is one of the concerti featured in the 1980 movie 'The Competition" which is now on Amazon Prime, after being available only on VHS tape. One of the few things about the movie that is not realistic is when Joseph Cali admits to Amy Irving that the Saint Saens is the only concerto that he knows. The typical pianist who aspires to a concert career would need a repertoire of at least a half dozen concerti although in the movie he aspires to be the next Liberace.

I love this piano cocerto.

I love this concert . Wonderful !!!

If there is a "perfect concerto" this Gm is IT! Highly intelligent interpretation as well!

What an awesome performance; Sokolov manages to make whatever he plays completely his own...and this has to be one of the most brilliantly orchestrated concertos in the entire repertoire...right up there with the Ravel concertos...

prekrsno istinnoe iskustvo spasibo GALIB

2:00 - 1 ч. ГП g 3:56 1 ч. пп B 11:44 2ч. гт Es 17:44 3 ч. гт g тарантела (сальтарелла)

My favorite piano concerto.

Amazing performance and great video edit!

Bravissimo!!!

Saint-saens is underrated. Stumped my theory teacher with the g minor bassoon sonata because he swore it wasnt a piece. Clicked in this video just because a lot of this composer's works are unknown. I knew i was in for a treat and it did not disappoint Edit: i actually have had the 3rd movement in my spotify playlist for years but I never knew the entire piece nor the composer because of how some of the 99 allegros work on spotify

Thanks a lot for posting this

素晴らしい‼️

0:00 - 11:43 Andante Sostenuto 11:48 - 17:38 Allegro Scherzando 17:43 - 24:26 Presto

Exquisite!

love the video transition to one movement to another!!

Saint-Saëns was so ahead of his time!!

To a concerto, it's really rare to end up with a minor!

11:39 when even the editor know what's up.

Amazing. Genius

Этот прекрасный концерт я бы назвала совмещение стилей: в начале баховский орган,тема бетховенского "Эгмонта",тема русских классиков либо Глинки, или Чайковского"Тема Ноктюрна", 2 часть - истинный Сен-Санс.. И наконец, 3 -часть можно смело сказать: сказочная часть, ночь с нечистью, ведьмы собираются, летят на шабаш либо Оберон с эльфами, где в конце явно звучит колокольный набат, когда вся нечисть со скоростью света старается исчезнуть до 5 утра, только не хватает крик петуха...Это Просто Супер!!! Надо же было услышать все эти звуки и воспроизвести в 3-х разных частях, абсолютно не похожих друг на друга..Недаром Сен - Санса привлекали мир загадочный, животный..

Wonderful!

The influence of Litolff is in some of his concertos including this one.

It's a total joy.

Anyone: how much notes you want to use? Saint saens: absolutely yes

1:11-1:25 POV you’re a German stock holder on Black Monday

Thanks for uploading!

Awesome!

Black Monday hits [insert country]

beautiful

13:12 Star wars

The opening measures of the first movement show the influence of C.P.E. Bach.

I like to put my 'brain' into such music, a little. When the written music is provided along with the audio (vice the orchestra and conductor) I like to try to follow the written music along with what I hear, trying to integrate the two into one thing. A minority of the time, I succeed. That's better than nothing, and worth it, to me. It's really hard with Stravinsky's, Rite of Spring. I think it's about impossible with some of Scriabin's music, even for somebody with twice my brain. I believe Scriabin's notation often provided for interpretation or flexibility from what he put on paper, for the pianist to improvise. I think he improvised, too, when he played his own music. So, whoever plays it, what you see on paper ain't always what you hear. I guess the notation allowing that is there, on paper, but I can't begin to know how to tell. But it's fun trying and sometimes I succeed! Then, sometimes, I just drop my brain, such as it is, and just listen only, or just hear only, and ride along. But I think following the writing as I listen is good mental exercise, like running for the body, and promotes alertness and probably improves both. It's better than crossword puzzles or jigsaw puzzles, maybe even better than chess.

고맙습니다

2:01 - I sense a deep sorrow in this melody. I love it dearly.

Bravissimo

The light effects are dramatic!!

Bravooo

Wow...!!!

Seven notes of the Allegro Scherzando remember me the second part of de Luke`s theme in Star Wars. 12:56.