Credits:

Franck, Cesar (1822-1890)

Description:

Composer César Franck celebrates the bicentennial of his birth in 2022. 1-4 and 7-9 are well known in the pianist's repertoire, but 7-9 are the only original piano pieces on this album. The others were arranged for piano by Franck himself and subsequent musicians. The "Preludes, Fugues and Variations," dedicated to Saint-Saens, is an organ piece that Liszt praised as "up there with Bach's masterpieces. The version arranged for piano by Harold Bauer is performed here. Prayer" is another organ piece from the same period, arranged by pianist Blanche Selva. In "The Aeolus People," which uses a chromatic technique that shows Wagner's influence, Franck first wrote a version for piano continuo and then an orchestral version. The solo piano version, arranged by composer Gustave Samazouille, is performed here. The Prelude, Chorale and Fugue is one of the few piano pieces Franck wrote. It is a strictly baroque work in the style of Bach, and the themes of the three parts are related to each other. Lutz, Pastoral from the Bible" is an oratorio conceived around 1843 and first performed in 1845. The piano score for this introduction was published after Franck's death in 1922. It is performed by Jean-Pierre Armengaud, who specializes in modern French works. Naxos Japan