Saint Saens actually wrote 5 symphonies, one of them a student symphony ?Urbs Roma? is very good as I remember. None compare to #3 (let's go Dvorak and re name them so decades of CD adn LP covers are wrong!), but they are nice in a light and fleet way. I think there are a lot of good 3rd symphony records (still love the Munch); one of my favorites is Martinon, who also recorded the four earlier symphonies. I don?t have it on CD, but I?m sure the sound quality will be better than the Angel LPs. Oddly Martinon is now known for Mahler, what a weird world?
Saint Saens has a few tone poems, Danse Macabre is really great. Another one, Rouet d'Omphale, I always liked because it was used as the intro for the 1930?s Shadow radio program. I go in and out of Old Time Radio phases.
Also, his second piano concerto, career vehicles for both Gilels and Rubinstein; and string Quartet are good pieces. I?m not really familiar with his solo piano music.
Saint Saens has always been my poster composer for liking good but not necessarily emotionally deep music ? classical music listeners (I think) need to relax and not worry that all music has to plumb the depths. Rock fans don?t feel bad for listening to silly 60?s pop and then switching to what ever is passing critical muster currently; I think classical fans might learn from the Rock world?s acceptance of and appreciation for different musical intentions.
Gregg