Customer Reviews

Eduard Franck: Violin Concerto/Sinfonie Op.47

5 star:		(3)
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The violin concerto on this disc is an absolute charmer, full of memorably melodies and attractive orchestration. It sits comfortably between the classicism of Mendelssohn and the romanticism of Bruch, borrowing from both but never sounding derivative. There is a bald patch or two, but if you like either of those composer's violin music, I'm sure you'll like this.

The symphony is not quite at the same level, but it's hard not to be drawn in by the exquisite horn solo which opens the piece. What follows isn't always memorable (particularly thematically), but there are many attractive passages of warm romanticism and a few odd turns of phrase to keep the attention from wandering too far. While you won't run to turn the player off, my guess is that you'll play the concerto far more often.

The playing on this disc is fine, although Ms. Edinger has a slightly acidic tone which distracts a bit from the sweeter passages in the concerto. Perhaps this disc will encourage other violinists to take up Franck's cause. In the meantime, I'm going to explore the other Franck disc, which also pairs a violin concerto with a symphony.

How nice it is to have new old music! Mendelssohn contemporary Eduard Franck, a long-overlooked early German romantic, is now apparently enjoying, posthumously, a lively revival. This new release of the Violin Concerto, stunningly revealed in all its touching and virtuosic magic by veteran virtuoso Christiane Edinger, is truely refreshing. There is also a symphony available and soon, we are told, the string quartets will be released in performances by the Edinger Quartet.

I wish to thank all the people who lodged their views on this CD and Eduard Franck. I purchased it as a result of their comments. Both works are truelly superb examples of 19th Century romantic music as personified by Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms.How Eduard Franck was overlooked is a total mystery. He is well up there for mastery of the orchestra, beauty of theme and technique.

These are an absolute must for any classical music enthusiast.

I share my enthusiasm for the music of Eduard Franck and his son, Richard, with that of the other reviewers of this disc. But I have a slight difference of opinion about the music herein. I find the violin concerto to be below the best of Eduard Franck with its foresquare and almost banal thematic material; further, there is some uncertainty in the playing of the otherwise excellent Christian Edinger, a violinist whom I generally admire.

But the symphony is a real jewel, particularly in its mournful adagio and the allegro third movement, the latter with its playfulness via the use of Brahmsian hemiolas. This symphony is a real find, and the playing of the Saarbrucken Radio Symphony under Hans-Peter Frank is exemplary.

Scott Morrison