Sonates pour violon

Description

The violin sonata by César Franck, a passionate and radiant work, has long been considered one of the most grandiose in the repertoire. It is the work of a composer at the height of his abilities. The sonata by Richard Strauss, composed in 1887, a year after Franck's, is the work of a young man, on the verge of discovering the voice of his maturity; lyrical and superb, it already bears all the characteristics of his later style. This CD also offers two rare pieces by Franck: Mélancolie, as well as the Prélude, Fugue and Variation op. 18 originally written for organ and presented here in an arrangement by Augustin Dumay and Louis Lortie. The brilliant violinist and conductor Augustin Dumay and the pianist Louis Lortie - recently described as "fascinating" by the New York Times - regularly perform together today, and this album marks their first duo recording. Their program dedicated to Franck and Strauss concludes with the wonderful arrangement of Strauss's lied "Auf stillem Waldespfad" made by Heifetz.