Piano Concerto No. 3 Op. 29 / Fantaisie "Africa" Op. 89 / Caprice-Valse "Wedding Cake" Op. 76 / Rhapsodie D'Auvergne, Op. 73

Released in 1980 by CBS Masterworks, this recording captures a significant moment in the late 20th-century revival of Camille Saint-Saëns’s piano repertoire. Conducted by Michel Plasson with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and featuring pianist Philippe Entremont, the album highlights Saint-Saëns’s lighter, more whimsical works alongside the technically demanding Third Piano Concerto. The collection reflects the era's growing interest in recorded cycles that explored the virtuosic, coloristic flair of 19th-century French romanticism, a style that had previously been sidelined by more austere, modernistic trends.

The production serves as a testament to the long-standing collaboration between Entremont and CBS Masterworks, during which the pianist established himself as a definitive interpreter of his compatriot's music. The design aesthetic is typical of late 1970s and early 1980s classical releases, favoring a clean, professional presentation that allowed the orchestral and solo performances to take center stage. Upon its release, the album was generally received as a polished contribution to the catalog, praised for the balance between technical precision and the inherent charm of Saint-Saëns’s salon-influenced compositions.