French Treasures

March 11, 2025, 10:00 pm

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A picture of Paris and the Eiffel tower
Paris and the Eiffel tower

Both composers on this program hail from the land of instrumental color and elegance, France. After beginning piano at an early age, Camille Saint-Saëns became one of the top organists in the world. His Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs was composed for a tour to Russia and dedicated to the Empress Maria Feodorovna — born a Danish Princess. The work includes both Danish and Russian themes and impressed Anton Rubinstein enough to require his students to attend a performance. Inspired by the work of Saint-Saëns and his contemporaries, Ernest Chausson was one of a group of talented and skillful French composers whose work is not well known outside of France. His Concerto in D major combines the virtues of the solo concerto perfectly with those of chamber music: every part is important, the ensemble must work as a team, and yet, the solo violin and piano share a bright spotlight. Besides the work’s obvious structural ingenuity, it is above all a moving, thrilling work of great beauty and excitement.

Playlist

Camille Saint-Saëns: Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Piano, Op. 79
Adam Walker, flute; James Austin Smith, oboe; David Shifrin, clarinet; Michael Stephen Brown, piano

Ernest Chausson: Concerto in D major for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet, Op. 21
Arnaud Sussmann, violin solo; Wu Han, piano; Kristin Lee, Yura Lee, violin; Richard O’Neill, viola; Nicholas Canellakis, cello