César Franck

[Belle]

I've been listening to this masterwork by Franck today and following along with the score: the Piano Quintet in F Minor (no doubt inspired by Brahms?). Franck isn't a composer you often hear in the concert and recital halls and I'm wondering why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvbtf2IDwN0

[Rach3]

Franck isn't a composer you often hear in the concert and recital halls and I'm wondering why:

Good question.For me , his sine qua non are the Violin Sonata and Quintet.

[Wallingford]

Franck's star has really faded with the decades. Time was when his was REQUIRED repertoire with all the French conductors. I don't believe he was an active part of Dutoit's literature, was he?

But the orchestral tone poem Le Chasseur maudit is still trotted out from time to time. Franck deserves better.

[Wallingford]

The slow movement of his organ work Grand piece symphonique is one of the most achingly gorgeous things ever written.

[John F]

Franck's symphony in D minor used to be a staple of American concert programs and was recorded quite often, notably by Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra. But it seems to have dropped out of the repertoire; the New York Philharmonic last played it during the regular season in 2001, Kurt Masur conducting. I hadn't listened to it in many years and hearing it just now, it rather gives me aural indigestion. But undoubtedly it's a major work and its recent neglect is undeserved.

Other works by Franck appeal to me more, notably the sonata for violin and piano which most of the major violinists have recorded; there's a fine version by Zino Francescatti and Robert Casadesus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYodQFlZhGw

[Belle]

I've always enjoyed Franck's "Symphony in D" which I regard as no better nor worse than any symphony by Robert Schumann; in some respects it's quite similar to his.

Agree about the Sonata and, of course, I love the Quintet. Trying to hear more of his organ music at the moment.

This trailer is a very tempting entree to a documentary I'd very much like to see, but it's very costly to buy. And it discusses Franck and his inspiration - the organs of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. We had a presentation in our music group two years ago about this fantastic organ maker, but it's a shame the whole program (the subject of this trailer) doesn't seem available on U-Tube: Amazon sells it as a package 3 DVDs and 2 CDs!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G36AJPpo4lo

[maestrob]

Franck's star has really faded with the decades. Time was when his was REQUIRED repertoire with all the French conductors. I don't believe he was an active part of Dutoit's literature, was he?

But the orchestral tone poem Le Chasseur maudit is still trotted out from time to time. Franck deserves better.

Dutoit did record the Symphony in D and other works: still available on CD.

[John F]

Another piece by Franck that appeals to me is/are his Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra, an uncharacteristically virtuosic piece that has received several outstanding recordings such as this one with Alfred Cortot.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmROunc1f8k

[Rach3]

The slow movement of his organ work Grand piece symphonique is one of the most achingly gorgeous things ever written.

Thanks for this. Heard that second mov. only, and very nice, my first hearing.

I forgot to mention Franck’s Prelude,Fugue and Variation in B minor, Op.18. Originally written for organ, here is a piano version by pianist Harold Bauer, played by Vlado Viardo, an under-appreciated worthy companion to Franck’s more famous Prelude,Chorale and Fugue :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h6lzXjA3Ow ( 11 minutes )

Igor Zhukov playing live in 1994 his own transcription of that Franck Op.18, more organ-like than Bauer’s :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xa5xV7biyU

I have not heard the organ original.Several YT comments prefer the piano versions.

[Rach3]

Another piece by Franck that appeals to me is/are his Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra..

Agreed. Here is a live 1965 with pianist Cziffra, his son conducting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=offejPoTAzo

[Lance]

Franck? For me, a very important composer, enough so that I count some 400 CDs with something by the composer. There have been many commercial recordings with among the world's most noted performers who have committed Franck to disc. But for those who might want to delve into Franck without breaking the bank, Brilliant Classics has issued an "almost complete" 23 set [95793]. The staple items from Franck's catalogue of works includes his Symphony in D Minor, his Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, the Piano Quintet, the Symphonic Variations, the Violin Sonata (also transcribed for other instruments), a marvelous piece called Les Djinns for piano and orchestra that should be better known, and of course, Franck's organ music along with his piano- and chamber music.

[Belle]

The slow movement of his organ work Grand piece symphonique is one of the most achingly gorgeous things ever written.

Thanks for this. Heard that second mov. only, and very nice, my first hearing.

I forgot to mention Franck’s Prelude,Fugue and Variation in B minor, Op.18. Originally written for organ, here is a piano version by pianist Harold Bauer, played by Vlado Viardo, an under-appreciated worthy companion to Franck’s more famous Prelude,Chorale and Fugue :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h6lzXjA3Ow ( 11 minutes )

Igor Zhukov playing live in 1994 his own transcription of that Franck Op.18, more organ-like than Bauer’s :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xa5xV7biyU

I have not heard the organ original.Several YT comments prefer the piano versions.

These are quite lovely transcriptions. Franck's music has a plangent quality altogether and sometimes it's just very dark. I like that.

[Rach3]

These are quite lovely transcriptions. Franck's music has a plangent quality altogether and sometimes it's just very dark. I like that.

Well said.Like a good Aussie shiraz !

[Belle]

How do you like Kissin in this repertoire?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwLtzhXINBI

Or Richter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebuYi65VwZY

I think I prefer the Kissin.

[Rach3]

How do you like Kissin in this repertoire?
Or Richter?

Thanks for these.

For me, it is probably Sergio Fiorentino on his all-Franck APR cd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAk4oOdlXIA ( PC&F)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD7N1A9m6Yc (The cd and Op.18 PF&V )

[Lance]

I believe there are over 60 recordings of the Prelude, Chorale and Fugue, probably the best-known piano work by Franck. Richter has five recordings of this work available … he always makes an impression that is lasting. Kissin seems to be coming more into his own the older he gets; alas, I wasn't left with a great memory of his interpretation though he is a remarkable pianist. However, for me, pianists such as Malcuzynski, Rubinstein (early mono recording), Ivan Moravec (the perfect touch!), Alfred Cortot, Murray Perahia, and Earl Wild (recorded his version at 88 years old!) have all made splendid recordings of this work. May I ask what attracted you to the Kissin version in comparison to Richter?

How do you like Kissin in this repertoire?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwLtzhXINBI

Or Richter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebuYi65VwZY

I think I prefer the Kissin.

[Belle]

I found the Richter strangely 'monochrome' (and it could also be the quality of the recording and piano) but I felt Kissin nicely captured the interplay between the hands. The latter certainly plays around with the tempo a bit, but I think it works and isn't too mannered. Rach3's preferred Fiorentino is a lovely performance too.

And didn't Franck look like a kindly gentleman in those pictures of him!!

[lennygoran]

I've always enjoyed Franck's "Symphony in D"

To be quite FRANCK about it I don't know much of his work but love that symphony! Regards, Len

[Rach3]

Possibly my first hearing today of Franck’s “ Prelude,Aria et Final “ , a 1932 recording by Alfred Cortot, a work which, in all franckness, is not quite as lyrically inspired as the Op.18 PF&V or famous PC&F, but worth hearing ,especially from these hands:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db3t1LIvVc8 ( About 21 minutes )

[Wallingford]

Six or seven years ago, when I subscribed to the Rhapsody download site, I custom-duped for myself a 6-CD set of Franck works.

It excludes the D minor Symphony (not for want of liking it, but to provide his other output with a fair airing). It's got Grand piece symphonique, Les Djinns, the Piano Quintet, his oratorio Les Beatitudes, some other organ works, the suite from Psyche, nearly a disc-full of his short piano pieces, the Second Piano Trio, and a few better-known items.

I also have this ripped to my Windows Media Library.

[Lance]

Ah yes, Sergio Fiorentino - wonderful pianist especially for piano aficionados - but somewhat forgotten. It appears Fiorentino didn't record for major labels, but Appian (APR) and Concert Artists/Fidelio (also issued by APR) has given us a huge amount of the pianist's material.

I found the Richter strangely 'monochrome' (and it could also be the quality of the recording and piano) but I felt Kissin nicely captured the interplay between the hands. The latter certainly plays around with the tempo a bit, but I think it works and isn't too mannered. Rach3's preferred Fiorentino is a lovely performance too.

And didn't Franck look like a kindly gentleman in those pictures of him!!

[THEHORN]

"Les Djinns" by Franck, inspired by Arabic folklore from where we get the word Genie " is an interesting work - sort of a symphonic poem / concertante work for orchestra and solo piano . I remember this from a n old EMI LP with the lae Aldo Ciccolini and if I remember , Serge Baudo conducting . There have been several other recordings , too .
As far as I know Serge Baudo is still alive and now 92 years old , and as far as I can tell, retired . He's made quite a few excellent recordings of French music .

[Lance]

It was the Ciccolini recording EMI that captured my interest in the piece from the first time I heard it. His conductor for that recording, however, was André Cluytens. Other pianists I have playing the piece include various performances by Sviatoslav Richter, Joshua Pierce, Joel-Francois Thiollier and Vladimir Ashkenazy. I think it's a lovely work in every way. The Ciccolini, for me, still ranks top!

"Les Djinns" by Franck, inspired by Arabic folklore from where we get the word Genie " is an interesting work - sort of a symphonic poem / concertante work for orchestra and solo piano . I remember this from a n old EMI LP with the lae Aldo Ciccolini and if I remember , Serge Baudo conducting . There have been several other recordings , too .
As far as I know Serge Baudo is still alive and now 92 years old , and as far as I can tell, retired . He's made quite a few excellent recordings of French music .

[diegobueno]

I haven't noticed that Franck's D minor Symphony has dropped out of the repertory. It seems to come up on programs often enough, at least for my taste. I have performed the piece twice, most recently with the Prince George's Philharmonic (in Maryland) in October. If the major league orchestras are giving it a rest (hopefully it's because they're too busy playing music by living composers), you can count on them coming back to it eventually.

That and the Violin Sonata are perennials. I hear or hear of performances of the Violin Sonata constantly, and not just by violinists. There are arrangements for cello, flute, clarinet, you name it. I mention this last fact because it demonstrates there's no lack of musicians interested in playing it.

[Wallingford]

That is such an infectiously catchy tune in the finale! I worked on it with a violinist during my last term as an undergrad. Tune was on my lips all the time.