Ivan Bessonov in Yerevan (Rehearsal) | Saint-Saëns – Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 22: III. Presto

In this video, young pianist Ivan Bessonov rehearses the third movement (Presto) of Camille Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22, during a visit to Yerevan, Armenia.

The rehearsal takes place at the Yerevan Philharmonic concert hall with an orchestra conducted by Harutyun Arzumanyan.
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921) was a French composer, pianist and organist. Born in Paris, he began studying music in childhood and entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1848. He later worked as an organist at the Church of La Madeleine and taught at the École Niedermeyer, where Gabriel Fauré was among his students.

Saint-Saëns composed his Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22, in Paris in 1868, reportedly completing it in just 17 days.

The work originated through his friendship with Russian pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein, who wished to conduct a concert in Paris. Saint-Saëns wrote a new concerto for the occasion.

The premiere took place on May 13, 1868, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, with Saint-Saëns as soloist and Anton Rubinstein conducting.

The concerto has three movements:
I. Andante sostenuto
II. Allegro scherzando
III. Presto

The opening movement recalls the organ writing of Johann Sebastian Bach. The second is a scherzo, while the finale is a rapid Presto with elements of the tarantella, an Italian dance.

The pianist and composer Zygmunt Stojowski later described the concerto as beginning with Bach and ending with Offenbach, referring to its contrasting musical styles.

Franz Liszt admired the concerto and praised Saint-Saëns' treatment of the piano and orchestra. Georges Bizet also worked on piano arrangements of the composition.

Saint-Saëns continued performing the concerto throughout his career, including a performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1906.

The present video documents an orchestral rehearsal in Yerevan.
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