arts
Review
Classical Music: Franck Symphony In D Minor
César Franck Symphony in D minor; Gabriel Fauré Pélleas et Mélisande
Berliner Philharmoniker/Daniel Barenboim
Recorded live, June 2023, Philharmonie, Berlin
Deutsche Grammophon 4866008
It’s a shame that Franck only wrote one symphony. A fine piece that Daniel Barenboim first recorded for DG with the Orchestre de Paris in 1976, was premiered in 1889, the symphony fusing elements of the German and French traditions. While indebted to Beethoven, Liszt, and Wagner, its cyclic structure, full of thematic cross-references, also reveals a very French concern with lyricism, elegance, and supple melodic writing.
As the notes reminds us, the symphony breaks with the convention of the form; Franck cast his work in just three movements. An inventive hybrid of slow movement and scherzo, the central Allegretto includes a sinuous melody for cor anglais; framing the Allegretto are two grandiose movements, which sound cathedral-like. Franck was an organist, after all.
There are some lovely sounds from the Berlin Philharmoniker, as the musicians bring out all the colour in this wonderful symphony through Barenboim's focus on tempi, allowing a number of beautiful moments with a warm depth to permeate. Franck’s pupil Vincent D’Indy described the symphony as ‘a continual ascent towards pure gladness and live-giving light.’ However, there were moments when Barenboim could have exerted more impetus.
Dominik Wollenweber delivers the cor anglais solo in the second movement with radiance.
The disc ends with Fauré’s music to
Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80, four delightful short movements in which the orchestra shines; lovely string playing is also matched with excellent woodwind. The
Sicilienne exhibits a beautiful balance between the harp and flute, and the short suite concludes the album in a pleasing manner.