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Title: Take this music . . . seriously
Review: These are the first recordings I heard of these delightful pieces for piano and orchestra; having listened to many other versions since (by both French and non-French artists), these EMI recordings are still among my favorites.Aldo Ciccolini comes from the Busoni school of pianism, which combines German intellectualism with Italianate lyricism; those who might think these qualities are unsuited to the music of Saint-Saens should spend some time listening to these marvelous accounts. The approach is quite deliberate at times, but it allows the music to unfold in a way that reveals hidden depths of expression, due in large part to Serge Baudo's careful direction. A recent recording of these concertos by Stephen Hough, for example, seems barnstorming and merely flashy by comparison.All in all, the pairing of Ciccolini and Baudo is a fine choice for a complete set of these piano concertos.
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