Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D flat major

Philippe Graffin is the latest violinist to join ONYX, after several outstanding discs of rare French and English repertoire for labels such as Hyperion and Avie. This new recital brings together the mesmerising intensity of Gypsy violin playing with classical composers’ response to it.

Released to coincide with a notable novel called Hungarian Dances by writer and journalist Jessica Duchen. She explains: “When I asked Philippe Graffin, a treasured friend and colleague, to check the manuscript of Hungarian Dances for violinistic errors, I little dreamed he’d respond by making this recording: a CD inspired by the novel. Yet the novel was partly inspired by a CD – Philippe and Claire’s beautiful recital ‘In the Shade of Forests’, [Avie Records, rave reviews worldwide] evoking the spirit of the archetypal wandering Gypsy violinist”.

Philippe’s recital is loosely based around the book but is also designed to work as a programme in its own right with several pieces chosen only for the recording including rarities by such composers as Von Vecsey, Hubay, Scarlatescu and Arthur Hartmann.

Claire Désert is well-known in France for several solo CDs for FNAC and other labels and here plays both piano and piano luthéal, the ‘prepared piano’ that Ravel had made for Tzigane in 1919 and which imitates the sound of a Hungarian cimbalom to striking effect in many of these pieces.

Pianist Andre Gorog has already been awarded a Diapason 5 for this recording of the solo piano version of Brahms’ Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel.

The musical expression of German Romanticism is the theme of this disc. The trajectory of Schumann’s Konzertstück, Op. 86, written for four horns and orchestra, goes from heroism to introspection. Two of his Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13, were orchestrated by no less a figure than Tchaikovsky, while Albert Parlow orchestrated four of Brahms’ most exciting Hungarian Dances. Mendelsssohn’s Overture to his Ballad Opera Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde (Song and Stranger) embodies classical virtues. Anton Webern’s Langsamer Satz for string quartet has been vibrantly orchestrated by Gerard Schwarz. Hans Pfitzner, one of the last representatives of the movement, is represented by his concise, melodic Symphony in C major.

This CD celebrates the 60th anniversary of the ever-youthful Saxon Wind Philharmonic. Under their new Principal Conductor Thomas Clamor, they perform works such as Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and Verdi’s Triumphal March form Aida with buoyant energy.

Piano music for 4 hands could be considered as the highest expression of friendship. Under the golden fingers of such major artists such as Boris Berezovsky and Brigitte Engerer, the ever-popular Hungarian Dances, are tenderly outlined with poetry, and their alternate moods of seriousness and happiness.

The Hungarian Dances also reflect the deep expression of reverie as well as the rhythmic energy of Hungarian folklore. Boris Berezovsky and Brigitte Engerer give us some of Brahms best-loved piano pieces in all their beauty.

This CD is a tribute to the cafés and salons of the belle époque.

A fun disc featuring repertoire as diverse as Mozart’s ‘A Little Laugh’ to Rossini’s famous ‘Cat Duet’, this bassoon ensemble continue their series of virtuosic performances for MDG.