César Franck - Symphonic Variations; Piano Concerto No. 2 (François-Joël Thiollier; Martyn van den Hoek)

Information

Composer: César Franck

• (01) Symphonic Variations, for piano & orchestra, M. 46
• (02) Les Djinns, symphonic poem for piano & orchestra, M. 45
• (03) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B minor Op. 11

François-Joël Thiollier, piano (1, 2)
Martyn van den Hoek, piano (3-5)
Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra
Roberto Benzi, conductor

Date: 2001
Label: Naxos
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.553472

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Franck's Piano Concerto No. 2, composed when he was just 13 (an earlier attempt was destroyed), previously was available on a 1990 Schwann disc that even then was overdue for replacement. Martijn van den Hoeck gives an agile and accomplished reading here, one that fully justifies buying this CD even if you already have the other works on the program. The recording was made in the Musis Sacrum in Arnhem, whose fine Philharmonic Orchestra previously made a strong impression in its first contribution to Naxos' Franck survey. This follow-up gives the rarely played concerto a much needed new lease on life, and in every way this is a considerable advance on the Schwann version by Jean-Claude van den Eyden, whose cautiously under-stated manner suits this volatile and extrovert work less well than van den Hoeck's gutsy, powerfully animated style. The Schwann production also suffers from technical flaws in both outer movements, and keyboard detailing in the adagio is poorly reproduced by the dimly-lit recording. 

On this Naxos disc, which shows van den Hoeck in exceptional form in the concerto's virtuoso finale, the sound is rich, spacious, and very detailed, with the piano placed slightly back, just as you'd expect in a concert hall. François-Joël Thiollier is soloist in the remaining works, and he gives estimable accounts of each. Perhaps unsurprisingly, however, his performance of the Symphonic Variations doesn't quite attain the poise and flow of the Decca version by Bolet, Chailly, and the Concertgebouw (let alone Rubinstein/Wallenstein on RCA). But Thiollier possesses an assured technique and a firm grasp of structure, making this a very useful interpretation, especially if you don't already have this work in your collection. Recommended.

-- Michael Jameson, ClassicsToday

More reviews:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Mar02/Franck_concerto.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Symphonic-Variations-C-Franck/dp/B00005UO8G

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César Franck (10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life. As an organist he was particularly noted for his skill in improvisation. Franck is considered by many the greatest composer of organ music after Bach. Franck exerted a significant influence on music. He helped to renew and reinvigorate chamber music and developed the use of cyclic form. He became professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872, his pupils included Vincent d'Indy, Ernest Chausson, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, Guillaume Lekeu and Henri Duparc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Franck

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François-Joël Thiollier (born 1943 in Paris) is an internationally recognized French-American classical pianist. Thiollier studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Robert Casadesus, and at the Juilliard School in New York with Sascha Gorodnitzki. He has concertised very widely in over 40 countries, and has made a large number of well-received recordings, including the complete piano works of Rachmaninoff (two traversals), Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin, and Busoni's Piano Concerto. He has won major prizes at international music competitions, and has participated in numerous competition juries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois-Jo%C3%ABl_Thiollier

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Martyn van den Hoek (born September 7, 1954 in Rotterdam) is a Dutch pianist. He studied music at the Rotterdam Conservatory, from where he graduated in 1975 at the age of 18. He had further studies in Moscow and Budapest, and with Josef Raieff (a student of Alexander Siloti). His repertory is broad, taking in works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Franck, Debussy and lesser known figures, such as Igor Markevitch. Van den Hoek's recordings are available on several labels, including Naxos and Brilliant Classics. He is also a teacher and author, having written two books.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/martijn-van-den-hoek-mn0002263017/biography

http://martyn.vandenhoek.at/en/biography

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