Franck: Symphonic Variations & Piano Pieces

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This is an outstanding release in every way. In fact, I cannot recall another that included all Franck's masterpieces for the piano on a single disc and in which, moreover, every performance... — Gramophone Magazine, September 2010 More…

Release Date: 3rd May 2010
Catalogue No: V5208
Label: Naive
Length: 72 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

September 2010

Editor's Choice
Presto Favourites

Recommended Recording

Franck, C: Prélude, Choral et Fugue, M21

Work length17:09

$3.00

$3.90

Bertrand Chamayou (piano)

Prelude

Track length4:39

$1.00

$1.30

Choral

Track length6:06

$1.00

$1.30

Fugue

Track length6:24

$1.00

$1.30

Franck, C: Les Djinns, Op. 45

Work length11:55

$3.00

$3.85

Bertrand Chamayou (piano)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Stéphane Denève

Franck, C: Prelude, Aria et Final M23 (1886 / 7)

Work length20:34

$4.00

$5.20

Bertrand Chamayou (piano)

Prelude

Track length8:26

$2.00

$2.60

Aria

Track length5:29

$1.00

$1.30

Final

Track length6:39

$1.00

$1.30

Franck, C: Symphonic Variations for piano & orchestra, M46

Work length14:02

$3.00

$3.85

Bertrand Chamayou (piano)
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Stéphane Denève

Franck, C: Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18

Work length9:14

$3.00

$3.90

Bertrand Chamayou (piano), Olivier Latry (piano)

Prelude

Track length2:45

$1.00

$1.30

Fugue

Track length3:36

$1.00

$1.30

Variation

Track length2:53

$1.00

$1.30

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Favourites, César Franck

David picks out some of the finest recordings of Belgian organist-composer César Franck.

Following his highly acclaimed award-winning debut album on Naïve, Bertrand Chamayou collaborates with one of Europe’s leading symphony orchestras, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, to record solo and orchestral works by César Franck.

Fuelled by the desire to bring César Franck’s music out of obscurity, Bertrand Chamayou here demonstrates wonderfully why Franck’s music should be an essential element in the concerto repertory of a virtuoso pianist. The programme here features the four great works Franck wrote for the piano – each one, rarely recorded. Though ‘Prélude, choral et fugue’ and ‘Variations Symphoniques’ appear frequently in concert programmes, the other works recorded here are less well-known. ‘Prélude, aria et final’ is a genuine neglected masterpiece. Chamayou states in his booklet note that “It is an example of the quintessence of Franck’s art, a virtually perfect work”.

The scintillating symphonic poem, Les Dijnns, follows and can be said to clearly affirm Franck’s status as the direct successor of Liszt. The recording ends with ‘Prélude, fugue et variation’ - a work that possesses undeniable charm and melodic grace that has excited envy among pianists. Chamayou opts to perform the rare and delightful salon arrangement by the composer himself.

Reviews

September 2010

This is an outstanding release in every way. In fact, I cannot recall another that included all Franck's masterpieces for the piano on a single disc and in which, moreover, every performance goes straight to the top of recommended recordings.

13th March 2015

Bertrand Chamayou shows an instinctive flair for Franck's piano writing, accompanied by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Stéphane Denève.

6th May 2010

This is an intriguing collection of César Franck's five works involving a solo piano...[Chamayou] demonstrates that both the solo-piano Prélude, Aria et Final and Les Djinns, a compact symphonic poem for piano and orchestra based upon a Victor Hugo poem, deserve to be heard far more frequently.

21st May 2010

The Prélude, Choral et Fugue has long been among the keyboard repertoire’s toughest challenges, and here its sturdy counterpoint, elaborate flourishes, ripe textures and serpentine harmonies are conveyed with impressive panache and interpretative seriousness by the young French pianist Bertrand Chamayou.

Franck: Symphonic Variations & Piano Pieces

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Favourites, César Franck

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