Soloist Dmitry Smirnov performs on the 'Caspar Hauser' violin by Giuseppe Guarneri 'del Gesù' from 1724, on loan from a Swiss foundation.
Recording & Production
This album features world premiere recordings of arrangements of works by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Modest Mussorgsky.
Historical Context
In the late 19th century, French composers sought to establish a national school of composition, distancing themselves from the dominant German classical instrumental music of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn.
Composition History
The 'Société nationale de Musique' was founded on February 25, 1871, to provide a forum for young French composers to present their works and promote a national French musical identity.
Composer Biography
Henri Duparc, a student of César Franck, composed for only a few years due to a nervous illness, but his songs are highly valued for their expressive power and emotional intensity.
Critical Reception
Camille Saint-Saëns's 'Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso' was premiered by Pablo de Sarasate in 1867 and was hailed by critics as 'original and charming', remaining a popular virtuoso piece today.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Édouard Lalo's Fourth Violin Concerto, the 'Concerto Russe', uses a looser formal structure and incorporates melodies from a collection of Russian folksongs edited by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
