Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.22 (Kantorow)

Father and son team up for what has to be the most theatrical and dazzling performance of Saint-Saëns' infamous piano concerto in G minor.
The originality of this work mainly lies in its unusual structure: it's basically a giant accelerando, which starts with an organ-like prelude à la Bach, and ends with a blistering tarantella. Both pianist and conductor operate on the same wavelength in underlining this feature. Kantorow son takes the opening cadence rather broadly and goes absolutely bonkers in the finale.

Kantorow is notable for having a completely uninhibited technique, but it is always at the service of his supreme musicality. His mercurial handling of rubato in the first movement may seem extravagant until you realize how much he gives life to the music, making every other interpretation sound pale in comparison. He finds a great deal of color in the scherzo and delivers the most meteoric performance of the finale I've ever heard.

00:00 Intro
00:13 I. Andante sostenuto
12:48 II. Allegro scherzando
18:39 III. Presto

The Saint-Saëns playlist:    • SAINT-SAËNS  
The Concertos playlist:    • Concertos