Franck Symphonic

This album is a well-thought-out program devoted to Romantic composer César Franck, who we don’t hear enough. The two piano solos, the Prélude, choral et fugue (1884) and the Prelude, Aria and Finale (1886-1887), find Franck favoring the tripartite form he loved, revealing a superbly expressive composer for the piano (he was an organist by profession). Tanguy de Williencourt gets under their skin and plays with poetry (the Choral is lovely) and real sweep. Joined by orchestra for the “Symphonic Variations,” he spreads his wings and gives a very impressive performance, while the slightly spooky “Les Djinns” is full of atmosphere.

Some music lovers are familiar with Ce qu’on entend sur la montagne, Liszt’s symphonic poem based on Victor Hugo. But who knows that, ten years earlier, César Franck was inspired by the same poem? This early piece is recorded here by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France conducted by Mikko Franck. They couple it with the famous Symphony in D minor, dedicated to Henri Duparc and premiered, without much success, in 1889. Even if the score is quite well-known today, in the end it is performed quite rarely, which is a pity, because it really has all the characteristics of a masterpiece: melodic and harmonic inspiration, refined orchestration, variety of mood, an ingenious structure.

Some music lovers are familiar with Ce qu’on entend sur la montagne, Liszt’s symphonic poem based on Victor Hugo. But who knows that, ten years earlier, César Franck was inspired by the same poem? This early piece is recorded here by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France conducted by Mikko Franck. They couple it with the famous Symphony in D minor, dedicated to Henri Duparc and premiered, without much success, in 1889. Even if the score is quite well-known today, in the end it is performed quite rarely, which is a pity, because it really has all the characteristics of a masterpiece: melodic and harmonic inspiration, refined orchestration, variety of mood, an ingenious structure. Two works by Franck… by Franck! This album marks the beginning of a collaboration between Alpha and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, which will focus on very varied repertories.