One of the most underrated romantic concerto passages

"The Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44 was composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1875. It was premièred on October 31, 1875, at the Théâtre du Châtelet of Paris, with the composer as the soloist. The concerto is dedicated to Anton Door, a professor of piano at the Vienna Conservatory. The concerto is scored for solo piano, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings. The fourth piano concerto is the composer's most structurally innovative piano concerto. In one sense, it is structured like a four-movement symphony, but these are grouped in pairs. That is, the piece is divided into two parts, each of which combines two main movements (I. A moderate-tempo Theme and Variations in C minor; II. A slower, related Theme and Variations in A♭ major; III. Scherzo in C minor; IV. Finale in C major). However, in each part there is a bridge-like transitional section, between the two main "movements" – for example, a fugal Andante in part II functions as an interlude between the two main triple-meter sections. The two movements are: I Allegro moderato – Andante II Allegro vivace – Andante – Allegro" 《 Wikipedia 》 An excerpt from the first movement of Saint-Saëns’ breathtaking Piano Concerto No. 4. While his Piano Concerto No. 2 is widely known, the Fourth Concerto, a true masterpiece of romance and elegance, remains far less familiar. This video features one of my favorite passages from the middle-to-late section of the first movement. With its dreamlike, almost heavenly atmosphere, this music never loses its magic no matter how many times I listen to it. I hope you can lose yourself in its beauty as well. Performer - Pascal Rogé, piano Orchestra - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor - Charles Dutoit