EDUARD FRANCK (1817-1893): Violin Sonatas in C Minor, Op. 19, in A, Op. 23, in E, Op. 60 & and D, op. posth.

Description: The eleventh release devoted by Audite to the music of Eduard and Richard Franck contains music you might not think to be unusual at first glance but these are the only violin sonatas written in northern Europe, except for Schumann's rather anomalous very late trio of sonatas, between Mendelssohn's early work in the genre and the 1880s, when Brahms, Dvorák, Franck, Grieg and Saint-Saëns began turning their attention to the genre. Franck is in the lyrical tradition of Mendelssohn and his reticent personality (also responsible for the last two sontats never having been published) means that there is little in the way of heaven-storming or Romantically emotional music here. Elements of folk style appear in the last two sonatas and masterly construction and attention to detail are the main virtues of these very "Classical"-type sonatas of 1853, 1859, 1861 and the undated Op. 60. 2 CDs. Christiane Edinger (violin), James Tocco (piano).