Piano Concerto No. 3 In E-Flat Major, Op. 29 / Fantasie "Africa," Op. 89 / Caprice-Valse "Wedding Cake," Op. 76 / Rhapsodie D'Auvergne, Op. 73

Released in 1979 by Columbia Masterworks, this recording captures a significant exploration of Camille Saint-Saëns’s secondary piano works, moving beyond the ubiquitous Piano Concerto No. 2 to highlight his more whimsical, folkloric compositions. By pairing the substantial Third Concerto with evocative pieces like the 'Africa' Fantasie and the 'Wedding Cake' Caprice-Valse, the album was intended to showcase the composer's range as both a structuralist and a melodic miniaturist. The production, led by conductor Michel Plasson and the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, reflected a period of renewed academic and commercial interest in French late-Romantic repertoire during the late 1970s.

The soloist for this collection, Philippe Entremont, was a natural choice for this repertoire given his long-standing association with the Columbia Masterworks label and his reputation as a definitive interpreter of French piano music. Entremont’s performance style, noted for its rhythmic precision and elegant articulation, aligns with the lighthearted yet technically demanding nature of the 'Wedding Cake' and 'Rhapsodie d'Auvergne.' Upon its release, the recording was well-received by critics for its cohesive approach to Saint-Saëns’s varied stylistic output and for providing high-quality, accessible alternatives to the composer's more frequently performed concertos.