Valse-Caprice for piano and strings 'Wedding Cake', Op 76

composer

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Recordings

Saint-Saëns: The complete works for piano and orchestra

Stephen Hough (piano), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo (conductor)

Buy by post £26.98 CDA67331/2 2CDs

Details

Stephen Hough (piano), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo (conductor)

Track 10 on CDA67331/2 CD1 [5'58] 2CDs

Valse-Caprice for piano and strings 'Wedding Cake', Op 76

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The Valse-Caprice, Opus 76, for piano and strings dates from 1886. Its ‘Wedding Cake’ nickname, while justifiable on account of its origin as a wedding present (for the composer’s pianist friend Caroline de Serres), has unfortunate connotations. Far from being a glitzy confection, the piece is a captivating gem, beautifully written and wholly characteristic of the composer’s art.