CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)

Complete Piano Works • 4
Dances and Souvenirs

GEOFFREY BURLESON

“Like Chopin, Saint-Saëns wrote a substantial body of 'concert dance pieces' that I find completely captivating, full of wit, enchantment and musical ingenuity. For me, his 3 Mazurkas are the equal of Chopin’s brilliant works in this genre. His 'character waltzes', as I call them, are simultaneously 'concert waltzes' and character pieces; an original genre that I find consistently compelling and enthrallingly inventive. They also regularly go down unexpected avenues, such as the beautifully ethereal middle section of the Valse nonchalante, which are the greatest pleasure to play. Saint-Saëns' 'Souvenirs' are vivid musical travelogues of Italy and Egypt, and quite virtuosic. It has been enormously rewarding for me to perform and record such evocative tone poems.” – Geoffrey Burleson

About this Recording

Although he is best remembered for his orchestral and instrumental music, Saint-Saëns was also responsible for spearheading the revival of the French Baroque, especially the music of Lully and Rameau, as well as being perfectly placed to absorb the latest instrumental dance music. His five ‘character waltzes’ include the ethereal and ravishingly textured Valse mignonne, the stylistically forward-looking Valse nonchalante and the virtuosic Valse gaie, the composer’s final waltz for solo piano, while the three minor key Mazurkas are strongly characterised and filled with ingenious musical contrasts. Last but not least, the three ‘souvenirs’ are delightful evocations of particular corners of the world that inspired Saint-Saëns.

GEOFFREY BURLESON

Geoffrey Burleson has performed to wide acclaim throughout Europe and North america, and is equally active as a recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and jazz performer. his numerous solo appearances include prominent venues in Paris, New York, Rome, athens, Mexico City, Rotterdam, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Switzerland, England, Spain, and elsewhere.