Sunday 20 March 2011

Some ideas about filling a CD containing the Beethoven or Brahms violin concertos comes with an enjoyable CD where we find Philippe Graffin and the Ulster Orchestra playing "Rare French Works" for violin and orchestra. I greatly enjoyed Lalo's Fantaisie Norvégienne, Ernest Guiraud's Caprice, Saint-Saëns' Morceau de Concert, Joseph Canteloube's Poème, and other pieces. Hands up all those who know any music by Guiraud, apart from his recitative interpolations into Bizet's Carmen? Well, his Caprice (nearly 12 minutes long) is most enjoyable.

Most of the works on the CD were written around / because of / dedicated to, Pablo Sarasate. Philippe Graffin plays in the manner of the 19th century violin celebrity.

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