Eugène Ysaÿe, the composer and violinist, was born in Liège in 1858 and died in Brussels in 1931, making him one of the most important and versatile artists of his era.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ysaÿe's mature musical language is a neoclassical and very personal style, influenced by composers like Berlioz, Franck, Saint-Saëns, Bizet, Fauré, Debussy, and Ravel.
Compositional Technique
Ysaÿe, a leading violinist, used virtuosity not just to display dexterity in the Paganinian tradition, but to enhance the intensity of expression in his compositions.
Performer Biography
Demetrius and Janna Polyzoides, the performers on this album, began playing together at a very early age, following the example of their Greek-born musician parents, Christos and Katherina Polyzoides.
Compositional Technique
In his early works, such as the first two Mazurkas (1884), Ysaÿe was inspired by his teachers Henri Vieuxtemps and Henryk Wieniawski, while also striving for his own individual style.
Interpretation
Historical recordings of Ysaÿe as a violinist reveal his overflowing temperament and unrestricted will to express himself, rather than just his technical skill.
Composition History
The first CD on this album showcases the stylistic development of Eugène Ysaÿe, from his early compositions to his mature works.
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