Joseph Jongen; Sylvio Lazzari - Violin Concerto; Rapsodie (Philippe Graffin)

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Composer: Joseph Jongen; Sylvio Lazzari

1. Jongen - Fantasia in E major, Op. 12
2. Lazzari - Rapsodie in E minor
3. Jongen - Adagio symphonique in B major, Op. 20
4. Jongen - Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 17: 1. Allegro poco maestoso
5. Jongen - Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 17: 2. Adagio, molto espressivo
6. Jongen - Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 17: 3. Animé

Philippe Graffin, violin
Royal Flemish Philharmonic
Martyn Brabbins, conductor

Date: 2015
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68005

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Review

THE STRAD RECOMMENDS

Hyperion’s Romantic Violin Concerto series reaches volume 18 with a heartwarming programme of unjustly neglected music, played by Philippe Graffin with a soaring intensity and tonal purity that fits hand-in-glove with its gentle, post-Wagnerian opulence. The chromatically inflected sound world of Italian Sylvio Lazzari’s E minor Rapsodie suggests that he experienced its Germanic exemplar through the twin prisms of Chausson and the Russian post-Romantic generation. The result sounds remarkably, at times, like reined-in Delius, with the soloist subtly weaving in and out of the orchestral textures rather than continually swashing his virtuoso buckler.

Although Joseph Jongen’s Concerto was composed shortly after a visit to Bayreuth at the turn of the last century, it sounds far closer to the Russian–Polish tradition of Arensky, Glazunov, Conus and Wieniawski than the hothouse harmonic plasticity of the contemporaneous Franco–Belgian school. Graffin’s tonal transparency, ear-ringing intonation and phrasal intuitiveness – the lyrical episode from 9’37” in the opening movement is particularly exquisite – are a constant source of pleasure, captured in alluringly tangible sound. Indeed, such is the captivating flair and insight demonstrated by soloist, conductor and orchestra that it defies belief these scores could have lain virtually forgotten for so long. First-rate annotations from Nigel Simeone provide the musical icing on the cake.

-- Julian Haylock, The Strad

More reviews:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/jongen-violin-concerto-adagio-symphonique
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Feb/Jongen_VC_CDA68005.htm
http://audaud.com/2015/03/jongen-violin-concerto-in-b-adagio-symphonique-fantasia-lazzari-rapsodie-in-e-philippe-graffin-violin-royal-flemish-philharmonic-martyn-brabbins-vol-18-of-series-hyperion/
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-romantic-violin-concerto-vol-18-jongen-lazzari-mw0002791817
http://www.amazon.com/Romantic-Violin-Concerto-Philippe-Graffin/dp/B00OMEJAJ2

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Joseph Jongen (14 December 1873 – 12 July 1953) was a Belgian organist, composer, and music educator. From his teens to his seventies Jongen composed a great deal, including symphonies, concertos, chamber music and songs. In 1897, he won the Belgian Prix de Rome, which allowed him to travel to Italy, Germany and France. His list of opus numbers eventually reached 241, but he destroyed a good many pieces. His monumental Symphonie Concertante of 1926 is considered by many to be among the greatest works ever written for organ and orchestra, being championed and recorded by numerous eminent organists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jongen

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Sylvio Lazzari (Bolzano, December 30, 1857 - Suresnes, June 10, 1944) was a French composer of Austrian origin. At the Paris Conservatory, he studied under Ernest Guiraud and César Franck. He held several official positions in Paris, including president of the Wagner Society (from 1894) and choirmaster at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. Lazzari's use of cyclic structures was indebted to Franck; he was also heavily influenced by Wagner (especially in his operas) and the impressionists. Very few of his compositions have been performed since his death, but some of his chamber music is occasionally revived.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvio_Lazzari

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Philippe Graffin (born 1964 in Romilly-sur-Seine, France) is a French violinist. Graffin was a student of the late Joseph Gingold and Philippe Hirschhorn and has established a particular reputation for his interpretations of his native repertoire as well for his interest in rare and contemporary works. He has made numerous landmark recordings for labels such as Hyperion, Avie, ASV and Onyx. Graffin plays a Domenico Busano violin, made in Venice, 1730. He is currently professor at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique and guest professor at the Brussels Conservatoire Royal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Graffin

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