Camille Saint-Saëns

Premier Concerto en la mineur op. 33

The first performance of the Concerto opus 33, in the orchestral version, took place on January 19, 1873, at the “Société des concerts du Conservatoire” in Paris. In this Concerto the cello takes the situation in hand from the very first measure, with an authoritative theme whose opening, in slightly modified form, will return over and over again, establishing itself as an element that, in its way, gives the concerto the allure of a cyclical work. Saint-Saëns takes advantage of all of the instrument’s resources, in all of its registers, while exploiting the use of harmonics to the fullest. Historical introduction and editorial notes in French and English by Edmond Lemaître. – New engraving.