The works on this release represent some of the finest for the violin to emerge from the French violin tradition, a tradition that stretches back some four centuries. From Louis XIII's 24 Violins du roi of 1626, through Lully and Leclair in the 18th century, and Rode, Kreutzer, de Beriot, Lalo, Vieuxtemps and Saint-Saens in the 19th. Lalo's evergreen Symphonie Espagnole reflects his Spanish ancestry, and it is thought that he consulted the great Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sarasate during the composition of the work. It is a clever blend of symphony and concerto, Spanish color, French effervescence and Germanic structure.
1 Symphonie Espagnole, for Violin & Orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 1. Allegro Non Troppo
2 Symphonie Espagnole, for Violin & Orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 2. Scherzando (Allegro Molto)
3 Symphonie Espagnole, for Violin & Orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 3. Intermezzo (Allegretto Non Troppo)
4 Symphonie Espagnole, for Violin & Orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 4. Andante
5 Symphonie Espagnole, for Violin & Orchestra in D minor, Op. 21: 5. Rondo (Allegro)
6 Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor ('Grétry'), Op. 37: 1. Allegro Non Troppo
7 Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor ('Grétry'), Op. 37: 2. Adagio
8 Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor ('Grétry'), Op. 37: 3. Allegro Con Fuoco
9 Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, for Violin & Orchestra in A minor, Op. 28
The works on this release represent some of the finest for the violin to emerge from the French violin tradition, a tradition that stretches back some four centuries. From Louis XIII's 24 Violins du roi of 1626, through Lully and Leclair in the 18th century, and Rode, Kreutzer, de Beriot, Lalo, Vieuxtemps and Saint-Saens in the 19th. Lalo's evergreen Symphonie Espagnole reflects his Spanish ancestry, and it is thought that he consulted the great Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sarasate during the composition of the work. It is a clever blend of symphony and concerto, Spanish color, French effervescence and Germanic structure.
