Franck Archive
“Lifelines” = GRIEG: Violin Sonata No. 1; LISZT: Two Elegies; FRANCK: Violin Sonata– Lea Birringer, violin / Esther Birringer, piano – Rubicon
An intelligent program and fine performances make this an attractive proposition even in a highly competitive field. “Lifelines” = GRIEG: Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 8; LISZT: Two Elegies; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major – Lea Birringer, violin / Esther Birringer, piano – Rubicon RCD1007, 60:52 (2/216/18) ****: While the Grieg […]
Beau Soir = FAURE: Violin Sonata; Berceuse; FRANCK: Violin Sonata; DEBUSSY : La file aux cheveux de lin; Beau soir – Kyung Wha Chung, violin/ Kevin Kenner, piano – Warner Classics
After a substantial hiatus from the recording studio, Korean virtuoso Kyung Wha Chung returns with a soulful program of Gallic music. Beau Soir = FAURE: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13; Berceuse, Op. 16; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; Panis angelicus (arr. Kenner); DEBUSSY (arr. Hartmann) : La file aux cheveux […]
The Music Treasury, 25 March 2018
This week, The Music Treasury is focusing on the performances by conductor Willem van Otterloo. Talented in many areas, Otterloo opted to study music, where he excelled in both cello performance as well as composition. Though his activity as a conductor was launched in the Netherlands, his career ultimately landed in Australia, where he conceited […]
The Music Treasury, 11 March 2018
The theme for this week’s show of The Music Treasury is the Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras. His works span a range of large orchestral works, opera, and the music of Gilbert and Sullivan. Mackerras was regarded as an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart. He was the conductor at several several opera houses […]
Martha Argerich and Ruggiero Ricci: Leningrad Recital II, 1961 = Works for Violin w Piano by BACH; BEETHOVEN; FRANCK; BARTOK; PAGANINI; TARTINI – Ruggiero Ricci, violin/ Martha Argerich, piano – Doremi
In this second installment of the Ricci/Argerich Leningrad recitals, they can do no musical wrong. Martha Argerich and Ruggiero Ricci: Leningrad Recital II, 1961 = BACH: Chaconne from Partita No 2 in d minor, BWV 1004; BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata in D Major, Op. 12, No. 1; FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; BARTOK: 6 Romanian […]
Ossy Renardy: The Complete Remington Recordings = PAGANINI: Caprices; FRANCK: Sonata in A Major; RAVEL: Violin Sonata No. 2 – Ossy Renardy, violin/ Eugene Helmer, piano/ Eugene List, piano – Pristine Audio
Ossy Renardy: The Complete Remington Recordings = PAGANINI: Caprices, Op. 1 (arr. F. David); FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; RAVEL: Violin Sonata No. 2 in G Major – Ossy Renardy, violin/ Eugene Helmer, piano/ Eugene List, piano (Franck & Ravel) – Pristine Audio PACM 103 (2 CDs) TT: 1:49:22 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****: The short-lived Austrian […]
Heroic Proportions: Selected Works for Organ = Music by BACH, FRANCK, BARBER, STEWART, WILLAN – Felix Hell – MSR Classics
Heroic Proportions: Selected Works for Organ – J. W. Steere & Son Organ, Opus 665 – Music by BACH, FRANCK, BARBER, STEWART, WILLAN – Felix Hell – MSR Classics CD MS 1542 TT: 69:00 (2/28/17) ****: A fine performance of classic and more contemporary organ works Felix Hell is one of the most sought-after concert […]
FRANCK: Violin Sonata; CHAUSSON: Concert for Piano, Violin and String Quartet – Isabelle Faust (vln.) / Alexander Melnikov (p.)/ Salagon Quartet – HMM
FRANCK: Violin Sonata in A Major; CHAUSSON: Concert in D Major for Piano, Violin and String Quartet, Op. 21 – Isabelle Faust, violin/ Alexander Melnikov, piano/ Salagon Quartet – Harmonia mundi HMM 902254, 67:11 (5/26/17) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi/PIAS] ****: The Faust-Melnikov duo realizes two powerful masterpieces from the Belgian cyclical tradition. Recorded June 2017, […]
“French Music” – works of CHAUSSON: Sym. in B-flat; Poeme de L’Amour; DEBUSSY: Printemps – Praga Digitals
The colorful, Symbolist scores of Ernest Chausson receive classic accounts by Munch and Barbirolli. French Music = CHAUSSON: Symphony in B-flat Major, Op. 20; Poeme de L’Amour et de la Mer, Op .19; DEBUSSY: Printemps – Symphonic Suite – Kathleen Ferrier, contr./ Halle Orch./ Sir John Barbirolli/ Boston Sym. Orch./ Charles Munch (Chausson Symphony and […]
HOELLER: Fantasie for Violin and Organ; Triptychon for Organ solo; Improvisationen for Cello & Organ – William Preucil, v./ Roy Christensen, c./ Barbara Harbach, organ – MSR Classics
The music of Karl Hoeller proves devotional and ecstatic in a highly individual but dark style. KARL HOELLER: Music for Violin, Cello and Organ = Fantasie for Violin and Organ, Op. 49; Triptychon for Organ solo, Op. 64; Improvisationen for Cello and Organ, Op. 55 – William Preucil, v./ Roy Christensen, cello/ Barbara Harbach, organ […]
FRANCK: Sonata for v. & p.; Melancolie, Andantino quietoso; RAVEL: Sonata for v. & p. No. 2; Tzigane – Kirill Troussov, v./ Alexandra Troussova, p. – MD&G Recital
An excellent performance of Ravel & Franck violin & piano sonatas, plus extras. FRANCK: Sonata for violin & piano; Melancolie, Andantino quietoso Op. 6; RAVEL: Sonata for violin & piano No. 2; Tzigane – Kirill Troussov, v./ Alexandra Troussova, p. – MD&G Recital multichannel SACD 903 1984-6 (plus 2+2+2), 65:28 (Distr. by Naxos) [1/13/17] ****: […]
RESPIGHI: Sinfonia Drammatica; Belfagor Ov. ‒ Orch. Philharmonique Royal de Liège / John Neschling ‒ BIS
RESPIGHI: Sinfonia Drammatica; Belfagor Ov. ‒ Orch. Philharmonique Royal de Liège / John Neschling ‒ BIS multichannel SACD BIS-2210; 70:03 (7/8/16) ****: Respighi off the beaten track. Stimulating and enjoyable. Jean-Pascal Vachon’s useful notes to this recording lay out the complex history of Ottorino Respighi’s musical education by way of explaining why this great big […]
Maureen Forrester – Berlin, 1955-1963 = Vocal music of MAHLER, LOEWE, BRAHMS, SCHUMANN, SCHUBERT, FRANCK, HAYDN, BRITTEN & others – Audite (3 CDs)
Audite gathers integral Maureen Forrester performances from RIAS that testify to her colossal range. Maureen Forrester – Berlin, 1955-1963 = MAHLER: Five Songs by Friedrich Rueckert; LOEWE: Four Songs, Op. 9; WAGNER: Gretchen am Spinnrade; Wesendonck Lieder; BRAHMS: 8 Gypsy Songs from Op. 103; SCHUBERT: 11 Songs; SCHUMANN: Five Songs; Gedichte der Koenigin Maria Stuart, […]
FRANCK: Piano Quintet in f minor; DEBUSSY: String Quartet – Takacs Quartet/ Marc-Andre Hamelin, p. – Hyperion
Wonderful performances of some lesser heard masterworks. CÉSAR FRANCK: Piano Quintet in f minor; CLAUDE DEBUSSY: String Quartet in g minor – Takacs Quartet/ Marc-Andre Hamelin, p. – Hyperion CDA68061, 62:25 (5/22/16) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****: While Debussy and his music are widely known, his string quartet – an immensely lovely sole work of […]
TANEYEV: Chamber Music with Piano = Piano Quartet in E Major, Op. 20; Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 22; Violin Sonata in a; Piano Quintet in g – Solisti dell’Officina Musicale – Aevea (2 CDs)
A survey of Taneyev’s chamber music with piano unearths several mighty treasures of earnest power and learned style. TANEYEV: Chamber Music with Piano = Piano Quartet in E Major, Op. 20; Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 22; Violin Sonata in a; Piano Quintet in g, Op. 30 – Solisti dell’Officina Musicale – Aevea AE15004005 […]
Egon Petri – The Complete Columbia and Electrola Solo and Concerto Recordings, 1929-1951 = Works oF BACH, BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS, BUSONI, FRANCK, CHOPIN, LISZT, SCHUBERT, GLUCK, TCHAIKOVSKY – APR (7 CDS)
Mark Obert-Thorn re-assembles the Egon Petri legacy.
Recital for Two Harps – FRANCK, DEBUSSY, SCHUMANN, MENDELSSOHN, FAURÉ – Ursula Holliger & Catherine Eisenhoffer, harps – Claves
Harp duo performs some familiar – and some hidden – gems.
DUKAS: L’apprenti sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice); La Péri: Fanfare; La Péri: Poème dansé; Symphony in C Major – RTÉ National Sym. Orch./ Jean-Luc Tingaud – Naxos
Tingaud has his Irish band sounding verrry French, and Naxos’ crystalline sonics are some of the best from this source.
Mercury Living Presence Six LP Selection – “The Collector’s Edition” = Universal vinyl set
A terrific set for analog turntable fanatics.
JONGEN: Violin Concerto in b; Adagio symphonique; Fantasia; LAZZARI: Rapsodie in e – Philippe Graffin, violin/ Royal Flemish Philharmonic/ Martyn Brabbins (Vol. 18 of series) – Hyperion
An almost unknown work by a composer known for another work, plus an unknown composer.
JONGEN: Violin Concerto in b; Adagio symphonique; Fantasia; LAZZARI: Rapsodie – Philippe Graffin, violin/ Royal Flemish Philharmonic/ Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion
The “Romantic Violin” series extends its legacy to neglected works from the Gallic school of imaginative concerted pieces.
“Belle Nuit” = (TrackList Follows) – Kathryn Goodson, piano/Randall Hawes, Bass trombone/Timothy McAllister, & Donald Sinta, sax/Gail Williams, horn – Navona (2 CDs)
Like being in a French café!
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
