91福利社

Donald Macleod follows C茅sar Franck's activities during the Siege of Paris and its aftermath, ranging from coal carrier to opera composer

It seems as if Franck's diffident character positively hindered his advancement. He wasn't interested in moving in glamorous social circles, and lived, according to one visitor who called on him the year before he died, "like a monk". This natural reticence may be why the composer of popular works such as the Violin Sonata, the Piano Quintet, a ground-breaking String Quartet and the glorious Symphony in D found that all to often his critics were quick to find fault and were slow to recognise his worth. He had some disappointments to bear, in an age when opera was thriving, none of his four operas saw the light of day in his lifetime. Recognition for his two major choral works, La R茅demption and Les B茅atitudes was to come after his death in 1890 at the age of 67.

Franck did enjoy some support. Early on, Liszt recognised his talent and did his best to help him get his work performed, and later on a band of his pupils, among them the composer Vincent d'Indy did their best to promote their beloved teacher's music.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Franck's birth, Donald Macleod spends the week delving a bit deeper into this enigmatic and complex character from his early compositions which pay homage to Liszt and the pianistic tradition of Hummel, to the wonderfully vivid pictorial canvas of Le Chasseur maudit.

Despite the privations caused by years of civil unrest, arts and culture did find some outlets in Paris. In 1879 Franck created a domestic drama and a public stir with the production of his brilliant piano quintet. .

Eglogue, op 3 (excerpt)
Ashley Wass, piano

Stradella, arr. Luc van Hove
Overture
Orchestra of the Op茅ra Royal de Wallonie
Paolo Arrivabeni, conductor

Hulda, Act IV (excerpt)
Souviens-toi de celle qui t'aime
H茅las !
C'est mon amour !
Ah ! Sur ton sein je me repose
Katharina Ruckgaber, soprano, Thordis
Irina Jae-Eun Park, soprano, Swanhilde
Joshua Kohl, tenor, Eiolf
Freiberg Philharmonic Orchestra
Fabrice Bollon, conductor

Patria
Tassis Christoyannis, baritone
Jeff Cohen, piano

Piano Quintet
III: Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco
Marc- Andr茅 Hamelin, piano
T谩k谩cs Quartet

La R茅demption
VII: Choeur des hommes, part III
VIII. Ch艙ur des anges. "Nous sommes au ciel"
IX. Air de l'Archange. "Le ot se l猫ve"
Eve-Maud Hubeaux mezzo-soprano
Vlaams Radio Choir
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Li猫ge
Herv茅 Niquet, conductor

Producer: Johannah Smith