Saint Saëns: Piano Concerto No 4 (1935) Cortot/Munch

Camille Saint Saëns
Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44
1. Allegro moderato - Andante (0:07)
2. Allegro vivace - Andante - Allegro (11:51)
Alfred Cortot, pianist
Charles Munch, conductor
Recorded on July 9, 1935
at the Abbey Road Studio 1, London
I remember sitting in the Hollywood Bowl before a concert back in the 1970s which featured a work by Saint Saëns with which we were not familiar. I asked my friend if she knew it and she replied, "No. But have you ever heard anything by Saint Saëns that you didn't like?" She had me there.
This comes to us from the golden period of Alfred Cortot, and his playing of this classic concerto from Saint Saëns is a delight. The great Charles Munch is conducting, making this a true French Treat from the mid 1930s.
Of course, whenever the recording comes from Abbey Road we always expect great sound too. This one does not disappoint.
Digital Transfer (2012): Studio Art et Son, Paris
Field Acoustic Restoration (2024): Paul Howard - The Yucaipa Studio
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[@copleysq]

Which orchestra?

[@JeanDeBouche]

it's probably the societe des concerts du conservatoire

[@steveluciani]

Searching does come up with one Cortot/Munch recording with the Paris Conservatory, but for this specific date, it looks like it was the London Philharmonic. EDITED TO ADD: Since I posted this, I've come up with conflicting results as well.

[@leestamm3187]

​​​@@steveluciani I've found conflicting information for the orchestra on this recording date from a number of sources. The London Symphony Orchestra, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, or The Society des concerts du Conservitoire, depending on which release from which company.

[@RS3DArchive]

As we can see, others came up with the same conclusions I did. The question remains unresolved.

[@leestamm3187]

@@RS3DArchive Oh well, whichever it was, they played nicely.