Édouard Lalo - Violin Concerto; Fantaisie norvégienne; Symphonie espagnole (Jean-Jacques Kantorow)

Information

Composer: Édouard Lalo

1. Violin Concerto in F major, Op. 20: I. Andante
2. Violin Concerto in F major, Op. 20: II. Andantino
3. Violin Concerto in F major, Op. 20: III. Allegro con fuoco
4. Fantaisie norvégienne: I. Allegro non troppo
5. Fantaisie norvégienne: II. Andante
6. Fantaisie norvégienne: III. Allegro
7. Symphonie espagnole, in D minor, Op. 21: I. Allegro non troppo
8. Symphonie espagnole, in D minor, Op. 21: II. Scherzando. Allegro molto
9. Symphonie espagnole, in D minor, Op. 21: III. Intermezzo. Allegretto non troppo
10. Symphonie espagnole, in D minor, Op. 21: IV. Andante
11. Symphonie espagnole, in D minor, Op. 21: V. Rondo. Allegro

Jean-Jacques Kantorow, violin
Granada City Orchestra
Kees Bakels, conductor

Date: 2009
Label: BIS
http://bis.se/composer/lalo-edouard/lalo-symphonie-espagnole

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Review

In 1873, the year before writing Symphonie espagnole, Lalo composed another work for the great Spanish violinist Sarasate – his Concerto in F, fated to remain neglected in the shadow of its popular companion-piece. Given pride of place on this CD, however, we can hear that it’s well worth reviving; the first movement, with its fascinating tonal scheme based on dramatic alternations of minor and major, is particularly impressive. Jean-Jacques Kantorow, one of today’s most individual players, has the measure of Lalo’s Sarasate-inspired violin-writing – he’s able to toss off the virtuoso passagework in a seemingly effortless manner and his distinctive tone lends a sensuous allure to Lalo’s melodies. The Granada orchestra gives spirited support; one can imagine more perfectly blended sonorities but with Lalo it’s probably more important that the sharply contrasted orchestral colours are brought out strongly, as they are here.

The Fantaisie norvégienne is a shorter, slighter work but full of charm and with many individual touches, especially in the scintillating final movement. Kantorow’s interpretation of the Symphonie espagnoleshows him continually alive to expressive changes. Occasionally hisrubato may seem excessive but it’s all clearly part of a deeply felt view of the music, spontaneous and immediate. The local Spanish colour is vividly applied, especially in the second and third movements. In the Andante, the quiet moments might have sounded more soft and tender, the melody in the finale’s middle section a touch more sentimental, but all in all these are exciting, strongly coloured performances that do Lalo proud.

-- Duncan Druce, Gramophone

More reviews:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Oct09/Lalo_BISCD1680.htm

http://www.allmusic.com/album/%C3douard-lalo-symphonie-espagnole-violin-concerto-fantaisie-norv%C3%A9gienne-mw0001877181

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Édouard Lalo (27 January 1823 – 22 April 1892) was a French composer. Although Lalo is not one of the most immediately recognized names in French music, his distinctive style has earned him some degree of popularity. Lalo's music is notable for strong melodies and colourful orchestration, with a rather Germanic solidity that distinguishes him from other French composers of his era. His most celebrated piece is Symphonie espagnole, a popular work in the standard repertoire for violin and orchestra. His Symphony was a favorite of Thomas Beecham, while his Cello Concerto is also revived now and then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89douard_Lalo

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Jean-Jacques Kantorow (born 3 October 1945 in Cannes) is a French violin virtuoso and conductor. In the 1960s he won ten major international prizes, including first prizes in the Carl Flesch Competition (London), the (Genoa) Paganini Competition, and the Geneva International Competition. Since the 1970s he has been noted for his solo performances in a very wide range of repertoire, and as a chamber music performer. His recordings have won many awards. He plays a Stradivarius attributed violin, the ‘ex-Leopold Auer’, dated 1699. In the 1980s he began a separate career as conductor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Kantorow

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