Jeanne Rongier's César Franck at the Organ Photo: Jeanne Rongier, Public Domain
The organist and composer was born in Liège, Belgium but lived most of his life in Paris.
As a composer, he was strongly influenced by Liszt and Wagner and so brought a somewhat German influence to French music at the time – an influence he passed on to his many immediate students at the Paris Conservatoire.
The influence was later thrown out totally by Debussy, Ravel and Les Six. However, his music remains loved – especially his Violin Sonata, his Symphony and for organists, his many works for that instrument.
Music Details:
Franck: Panis Angelicus – Malvina Major (sop), Philip Walsh (org) [Kiwi Pacific]
Franck: Symphony in D minor – Lyon National Orch / Krivine [Denon]
Franck: Piano Trio in B minor – Trio Novanta [Tudor]
Franck: Symphony in D minor – Lyon National Orch / Krivine [Denon]
Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor – Régis Pasquier (pno), Orlando Quartet [Lyrinx]
Wagner: Prelude, Tristan and Isolde – Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra [RNZ]
Franck: Les Eolides – RPO / Leppard [RPO]
Franck: Les béatitudes – Keith Lewis (ten), Stuttgart Radio SO / Rilling [Hänssler]
Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor – Régis Pasquier (pno), Orlando Quartet [Lyrinx]
Franck: Violin Sonata in A – Itzhak Perlman (vln), Vladimir Ashkenazy (pno) [Decca]
Franck: Symphonic Variations – Bertrand Chamayou (pno), Royal Scottish National Orch / Denève [Naïve]
Franck: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue – Bertrand Chamayou (pno) [Naïve]
Franck: Chorale No 3 in A minor – Gillian Weir (org) [Collins]
