César Franck dedicated his Sonata in A major to Eugène Ysaÿe at the last minute, hoping the young Belgian master's fame would ensure the work's success.
Performer Biography
Alexander Kniazev, the cellist on this album, is described as a "real successor of Mstislav Rostropovich" and has won several international competitions.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Brussels at Salle Ravenstein from October 26-28, 2010, with Michel Stockhem as producer and Jarek Frankowski as sound engineer.
Cultural Impact
Jules Delsart's transcription of Franck's Sonata for piano and violin became so popular that cellists appropriated the work as their own, despite numerous rival versions.
Interpretation
The album features transcriptions of works by César Franck and Eugène Ysaÿe, a practice that returns to the musical traditions of Ysaÿe's era.
Compositional Technique
Franck's Sonata in A major features a cyclical form with first-order musical ideas presented in different aspects across its four movements, from a metaphysical first movement to a canonic finale.
Composer Biography
Eugène Ysaÿe, a prominent violinist, met César Franck during his first extended stay in Paris between 1876 and 1879, where he also received advice from Vieuxtemps.
