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This is precisely the kind of recording that should be selling in large numbers to classical music lovers. Here we have well crafted music, appealing and in world premiere performances. In fact, the Violin Concerto receives its premiere performance on this disc. Eduard Franck's music has appeared on other recordings from this label (FER20025, FER20031). Eduard Franck was one of Mendelssohn's few private pupils. "He has the right mind and feeling for music, and love for it as well," the composer wrote Hermann Franck, Eduard's brother. Eduard gave concerts with Mendelssohn, was a friend of Robert Schumann and William Sterndale Bennett, and married a young woman who was a great friend of Fanny Mendelssohn. Their son, Richard, was also a fine composer, teacher and pianist, like his father. Eduard Franck's wide-ranging and many sided production, of which a great part remains unpublished and some of which was lost, includes orchestral works (several symphonies and piano concertos, a concerto for two pianos and orchestra, two violin concertos, as well as a number of overtures), chamber music, numerous piano works (including 19 sonatas) and a few songs and duets. Franck never denied the influence of his teacher and friend Mendelssohn, especially in his early works; he reveals a sovereign mastery of compositional techniques, formal clarity, transparent and yet sonorous piano writing and a diversified harmonic language. Even if his creative originality does not compete with the best, it would be a grave error to dismiss him as an also ran. The music world tends to fix blindly on a few hallowed names and the classical record industry sadly follows along. What a mistake for we deprive listeners of music such as is contained in this new CD. Here is a rare treat for your musically starved conservative customer.
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