Post by erik on May 7, 2022 12:15:22 GMT -5
A showpiece for violin and orchestra by the great French composer Camille Saint-Saens is in this week's Classical Works Spotlight:
Saint-Saens: INTRODUCTION AND RONDO CAPRICCIOSO, OP. 28
One of the most popular and influential French composers to have emerged after Hector Berlioz, Camille Saint-Saens was known for his colorful orchestrations and works that encompass the realms of symphonic poems (“Danse Macabre”; “Phaeton”); opera (“Samson And Delilah”); and the overpowering Symphony No. 3 (the Organ Symphony). He also was known for composing for the violin, particularly as he had a strong advocate in the Spanish violinist and composer Pablo de Sarasate. Besides three hugely popular full-length violin concertos, he also composed a pair of shorter, single-movement works for violin and orchestra. One was the E Major “Havanaise”. The second one, the “Introduction And Rondo Capriccioso”, was unique in that, in its being composed in 1865, he had at first intended the piece as the finale of his Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor (Op. 20). In the end, however, it remained as a signficiant stand-alone showpiece for de Saraste’s violin virtuosity; and the two men premiered the work at Paris’ Champs-Elysees to considerable success. Arrangements of the work have been made for violin and piano (by Georges Bizet); piano duet (Jacques Durand); and two pianos (by Claude Debussy). In general, however, this remains the province of virtuoso violinists, many of whom consider this work, which is only ten minutes long and scored for an orchestra no larger than for what Beethoven and Brahms needed for their ultra-popular concertos, one of the most challenging for their instrument.
Violin: NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG
New York Chamber Symphony Orchestra/GERARD SCHWARZ (EMI)
Included:
Mendelssohn: VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR
Saint-Saens: HAVANAISE
Massenet: MEDITATION/FROM “THAIS”
Saint-Saens: INTRODUCTION AND RONDO CAPRICCIOSO, OP. 28
One of the most popular and influential French composers to have emerged after Hector Berlioz, Camille Saint-Saens was known for his colorful orchestrations and works that encompass the realms of symphonic poems (“Danse Macabre”; “Phaeton”); opera (“Samson And Delilah”); and the overpowering Symphony No. 3 (the Organ Symphony). He also was known for composing for the violin, particularly as he had a strong advocate in the Spanish violinist and composer Pablo de Sarasate. Besides three hugely popular full-length violin concertos, he also composed a pair of shorter, single-movement works for violin and orchestra. One was the E Major “Havanaise”. The second one, the “Introduction And Rondo Capriccioso”, was unique in that, in its being composed in 1865, he had at first intended the piece as the finale of his Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor (Op. 20). In the end, however, it remained as a signficiant stand-alone showpiece for de Saraste’s violin virtuosity; and the two men premiered the work at Paris’ Champs-Elysees to considerable success. Arrangements of the work have been made for violin and piano (by Georges Bizet); piano duet (Jacques Durand); and two pianos (by Claude Debussy). In general, however, this remains the province of virtuoso violinists, many of whom consider this work, which is only ten minutes long and scored for an orchestra no larger than for what Beethoven and Brahms needed for their ultra-popular concertos, one of the most challenging for their instrument.
Violin: NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG
New York Chamber Symphony Orchestra/GERARD SCHWARZ (EMI)
Included:
Mendelssohn: VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR
Saint-Saens: HAVANAISE
Massenet: MEDITATION/FROM “THAIS”