Camille Saint-Saëns told his publisher in 1879 that the Violin Concerto No. 3 would be his last, and he never wrote another violin concerto, despite living for another 42 years.
Composer Biography
Édouard Lalo, unlike most French composers, was never a student at the Paris Conservatoire, which may have contributed to his difficulties in being taken seriously by French critics.
Composer Biography
Pablo de Sarasate, a violin prodigy from Pamplona, was sent to the Paris Conservatoire at age twelve and remained a Parisian for life, though always proud of his Spanish heritage.
Compositional Technique
Pablo de Sarasate's Concert Fantasy on Bizet's 'Carmen' is a virtuoso showpiece, with every bar exploiting advanced violin techniques such as double stops, harmonics, glissandi, and left-hand pizzicati.
Instruments
Pablo de Sarasate owned two Stradivari violins, one of which he later gave to the Paris Conservatoire and the other to the Madrid Conservatoire.
Performer Biography
James Ehnes, the violinist on this recording, began violin studies at age four, made his orchestral debut at thirteen, and plays the 'Marsick' Stradivarius from 1715.
Composition History
Many concertos were written for Pablo de Sarasate, including dedications from Max Bruch, Henryk Wieniawski, and Joseph Joachim.
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