Even though the third violin concerto seems to impose fewer technical demands on the soloist than its predecessors, its melodic invention and impressionistic subtlety present significant interpretive challenges. This stress is most notable in the second movement and the chorale of the finale, which is reminiscent of the conclusion of the Fourth Piano Concerto.[2] Possibly because of this, the Third Concerto along with the Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28, and the Havanaise, Op. 83 have endured as the major concertante works for violin by Saint-Saëns still heard regularly today.[3]
Instrumentation
The work is scored for solo violin, 2 flutes/piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings.
Pierre Amoyal, violin, New Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley. CD Erato 1977
Ulf Hoelscher, violin, Complete Violin Concertos (n°1, n°2, n°3),, New Philharmonia Orchestra, conductor Pierre Dervaux. Recorded 1977 for EMI. Reissued by Brilliant Classics 2012
Joshua Bell, violin, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, conductor Charles Dutoit. CD Decca 1989
Andrew Wan, violin, Complete Violin Concertos (n°1, n°2, n°3), Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, conductor Kent Nagano. CD Analekta 2015
References
^Ratner, Sabina Teller (2002). Camille Saint-Saëns, 1835–1922: A Thematic Catalogue of his Complete Works, Volume 1: The Instrumental Works. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 374–378. ISBN978-0-19-816320-6.
