This album includes the world-premiere recording of three Debussy preludes arranged by Craig White for violin and piano.
Composer's Artistic Vision
French composers during the Belle Époque either sought to establish an independent French school, free from Italian and German influence, or were drawn to Wagner's epic melodramas.
Instruments
Daniel Rowland plays a violin made by Lorenzo Storioni in Cremona in 1796, and his bow is a Maline, loaned by the Dutch Instrument Foundation.
Performer Biography
Daniel Rowland, the violinist on this album, was for twelve years the leader of the Brodsky Quartet, performing worldwide and making numerous recordings, including the celebrated Shostakowitch Cycle.
Composer Biography
Ernest Chausson, a composer featured on this album, tragically died at 44 after losing control of his bicycle on a steep hill and crashing into a wall.
Historical Context
The album's music was created during the Belle Époque, a period between 1871 and World War I when Paris was a center for artistic endeavors, inspiring music of charm and melodic flair.
Composition History
César Franck's Violin Sonata, featured on this album, was originally inspired by the marriage of Belgian virtuoso violinist Eugène Ysaÿe to Louise Bordeau.
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