Mstislav Rostropovich performs Camille Saint-Saëns

Celebrating the 100th death anniversary of Saint-Saëns, Clasart Classic presents this outstanding archive production.

On December 16th, 2021, the musical world will be celebrating the 100th death anniversary of Camille Saint-Saëns. The French composer was an enormously versatile musician who absorbed influences from Wagner, Verdi and Baroque music, and triggered a new interest in chamber music and orchestral music in France in the last quarter of the 19th century. His Concerto No. 1 for cello and orchestra stands out for the compactness and clarity of its structure, elegant workmanship, urbane style and richness of melodic material.

In this recently remastered production from 1979, Camille Saint-Saëns' Cello concerto is performed by one of the greatest cellists ever, Mstislav Rostropovich. London's Henry Wood Hall briefly became a musical Olympus when the two giants, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and conductor Carlo Maria Giulini, came together to make music. Both at the summit of their art, they joined forces with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to record, apart from Camille Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1, also Antonin Dvorak's Cello Concerto. Under Giulini and Rostropovich, the concertos glow with a special warmth and intensity that make this recording a precious document for posterity.

Production year 1979
Director Hugo Käch
Composer Camille Saint-Saëns
Composer Antonin Dvorak
Orchestra / Band London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor Carlo Maria Giulini
Soloist Mstislav Rostropovich