Saint-Säens: The 5 Piano Concertos
Jeanne-Marie Darré (2021-26 Remastered, Paris 1955-57)
2 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
Total length: 02:05:15
Jeanne-Marie Darré received equal training from the two principal branches of the French piano school. From Isidor Philipp, with his celebrated method of holding sustained notes over dominant seventh chords, she acquired extraordinary physical stamina, rooted in the tradition of Matthay. From Marguerite Long, she absorbed the creed of even finger technique and tonal lightness inherited from Marmontel.
The years she devoted to the studies of Clementi, Czerny, Stamaty, and Pischna, as well as to the works of Hummel, Weber, Mendelssohn, and Liszt, instilled in her a lifelong passion for technical discipline and an almost inexhaustible endurance. Armed with this unshakable foundation, she made her official debut at the Salle Érard at the age of fourteen and produced her first recording at seventeen.
One Parisian event, in particular, marked the beginning of her fame: in May 1926, the young pianist performed all five of Saint-Saëns's piano concertos in a single evening with the Orchestre Lamoureux under the baton of Paul Paray.
Her rhythmic vitality, formidable virtuosity, radiant sonority, and astonishing ability to overcome such an immense challenge left audiences spellbound, forever linking her name with these works, although she would not record them until many years later. Her recordings of Saint-Saëns's five piano concertos remain the perfect synthesis of her artistry, uniting musical intelligence with physical energy, pianistic exuberance with irrepressible vitality of spirit.
These mono recordings had aged poorly, but they have now benefited from a superb remastering carried out with the utmost respect for both the original performances and the original sound recordings.
Enjoy your listening
