Ever since Edouard Lalo wrote his Spanish-inspired violin concerto Symphonie Espagnole
opus 21, it has ranked among the most frequently played violin concertos. On this recording the orchestral part has been arranged for guitar, which gives the piece a genuine chamber-music character.
Fantaisie Norvégienne from 1878 was originally a concert fantasy for violin and orchestra. The Spanish guitar, seen as a folk music instrument, also interested Lalo, and in 1882 he wrote Guitare for violin and piano. Until now the only existing recording of this piece has been in the form of a rhapsody for orchestra.
I. Allegro non troppo