Here is music by three composers who were pianists of considerable accomplishment. C sar Franck broke away from a career as a virtuoso, to become an organist and composer. Vincent d'Indy's piano playing was always secondary to his main mission as composer and teacher. Only Camille Saint-Sa ns maintained for most of his long life a second string as a performer. Described by Berlioz as 'an absolutely shattering master-pianist', Saint-Sa ns was the soloist in the premiere of his Fifth Piano Concerto. The virtuoso who provides a link between these three pieces is Louis Di mer (1843-1919), who gave the first performance of Franck's Les Djinns in 1885, and of the same composer's Variations Symphoniques the next year. He was also the dedicatee of Saint-Sa ns' 'Egyptian' Concerto, and the piano teacher of d'Indy.Australian pianist Duncan Gifford has firmly established himself as a major artist of his generation. His recent international successes include First Prize in the Maria Callas Grand Prix de Piano in Athens, Greece (2000), First Prize in the Concours Prix Mozart in Lausanne, Switzerland (1999) and First Prize, as well as the Beethoven and Chopin Prizes, in the prestigious Jos Iturbi International Piano Competition in Spain (1998).

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. SAINT-SAENS (1835-1921): Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 'Egyptian'
2. D'INDY (1851-1931): Symphonie sur un chant montagnard francais (Symphonie cevenole), Op. 25
3. FRANCK (1822-1890): Les Djinns, Op. 45 (poeme symphonique pour piano et orchestre)