Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Suite, Op. 16   / Allegro Appassionato / The Swan
Here's a logical and, believe it or not, rare coupling. Saint-Saëns wrote two excellent cello concertos, and you would think that they would be featured together on more recordings. Instead, we usually get the far less musically rewarding "Lalo" Concerto, and listeners are robbed of the chance to make the acquaintance of the Concerto No. 2, which deserves to be much better known. Maria Kliegel is a very fine cellist--as good as anyone out there on any given day--and she has made a lovely series of recordings for Naxos. This is one of the best, a totally enjoyable romp through Saint-Saëns's typically French combination of formal sophistication and polish.--David Hurwitz