Franck

César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life.

He was born at Liège, in what is now Belgium (though at the time of his birth it was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands). He gave his first concerts there in 1834 and studied privately in Paris from 1835, where his teachers included Anton Reicha. After a brief return to Belgium, and a disastrous reception for an early oratorio Ruth, he moved to Paris, where he married and embarked on a career as teacher and organist. He gained a reputation as a formidable musical improviser, and travelled widely within France to demonstrate new instruments built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

In 1858, he became organist at the Basilica of St. Clotilde, Paris, a position he retained for the rest of his life. He became professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872; he took French nationality, a requirement of the appointment. His pupils included Vincent d'Indy, Ernest Chausson, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, Guillaume Lekeu and Henri Duparc. After acquiring the professorship, Franck wrote several pieces that have entered the standard classical repertoire, including symphonic, chamber, and keyboard works.

Franck

ANDA Franck: Symphonic Variations (1943) - PASC023

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FRANCK Symphonic Variations

Recorded in 1943
Duration 15:28

Géza Anda, piano
Concertgebouw Orchestra,
Conducted by Eduard van Beinum

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CICCOLINI plays Satie & Franck (1956/1953) - PAKM087

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SATIE Gymnopédies
SATIE Gnossiennes
SATIE Trois Morceaux en forme de poire
SATIE Heures séculaires et instantanées
SATIE 3 Valses distinguées du précieux dégoûté
SATIE Avant-dernières pensées
SATIE Nocturnes
FRANCK Variations symphoniques

Studio recordings, 1956 & 1953
Total duration: 60:45

Aldo Ciccolini, piano
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
conducted by André Cluytens

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FURTWÄNGLER conducts Franck and Ravel (1944-51) - PASC702

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FRANCK Symphony in D minor
RAVEL Rapsodie Espagnole
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2

Live recordings, 1944 - 1951
Total duration: 71:41

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler

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HEIFETZ, PIATIGORSKY The Chamber Concerts (1961) - PACM108

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MOZART String Quintet No. 4
FRANCK Piano Quintet
BRAHMS String Sextet No. 2
MENDELSSOHN String Octet

Stereo studio recordings, 1961
Total duration: 1hr 59:05

Leonard Pennario piano
Jascha Heifetz - Israel Baker violins
Arnold Belnick - Joseph Stepansky violins
William Primrose - Virginia Majewski violas
Gregor Piatigorsky - Gabor Rejto cellos

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