César Franck: Chamber Music Masterpieces

This remarkable set reveals the full breadth and genius of César Franck.

Σεζάρ Φρανκ (1822-1890)- Βικιπαίδεια

From 1879 begins the decade of his late flowering in the great chamber works, included is his well-loved Piano Quintet. César Franck (1822-1890), is widely considered one of the foremost 19th century French composers.

 

 He was not in fact French by birth, being born to parents of German stock in Liege, Belgium. He only became a full French citizen in 1873. 

 

A child prodigy he studied piano and organ in both Belgium and France. His career as a traveling piano virtuoso was not successful and it was as an organist that he finally established himself and settled in France as a teacher and organist, the Paris church St Clothilde, with its magnificent Cavaille Coll organ, being his home. Among the most talented violinists of his generation, Kristóf Baráti has made a string of recordings for Brilliant Classics that have been highly recommended across the board. 

 

Lavishing praise on his long-standing artistic partnership with his fellow Hungarian Klára Würtz. After their acclaimed recordings of the violin sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms Kristóf Baráti and Klára Würtz turn their attention towards France, presenting the the famous violin sonatas by Franck. The sonata is a masterpiece in its genre, its passionate, tender and witty character has made it a audience favourite all over the world. After Mūza Rubackytė’s dazzling disc of the piano music, the second Franck recording on Brilliant pairs her with fellow Lithuanian musicians for the two major chamber works by the Belgian composer. Both the String Quartet and Piano Quintet are conceived on a grand scale, with the loose, long-limbed melodies and intensely worked counterpoint characteristic of Franck; as late works, they represent a summit of his musical achievement, but they demand fearsome levels of concentration from performers, which may be one reason why they are performed and recorded but rarely.

 

 Tracklist: Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 played by Kristóf Baráti (violin) & Klára Würtz (piano): 0:00:00 I. Allegretto ben moderato 0:05:35 II. Allegro 0:13:13 III. Recitativo-Fantasia, ben moderato 0:19:57 IV. Allegretto poco mosso String Quartet in D Major, FWV 9 played by Mūza Rubackytė (piano) & Vilnius String Quartet: 0:26:07 I. Poco lento – Allegro 0:43:30 II. Scherzo. Vivace 0:48:57 III. Larghetto 1:00:03 IV. Finale. Allegro molto – Larghetto Piano Quintet in F Minor, FWV 7 played by Mūza Rubackytė (piano) & Vilnius String Quartet: 1:15:17 I. Molto moderato quasi lento 1:31:15 II. Lento con molto sentiment 1:42:30 III. Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco