Vladimir Viardo's breathtaking interpretation of César Franck's Prelude, Fugue and Variation Op.18. Originally written for organ, transcribed for piano by Harold Bauer.
Rare beauty. Unparalleled sense of drama and refinement. Deeply poignant and nostalgic. Cannot thank enough asv8104 for uploading this. Deepest admiration for Maestro Viardo.
This music of Franck is laced with evil yet inspirational intentions. At times it's sad, no hope and other times it's peaceful with love pouring out like a stream. What a wonderful Fugue. I don't see how it's not popular.
You have to remember, this work was composed as a funeral dirge, not a concert virtuosos work. Upon the passing of a love one, probably his niece... and with regards to his whole family. I love this work and I've been working on it for many years now. Both on the organ and piano. There is so much room for individual interpretation. A Master Work. Given to all of us. I love this piece and love to listen to any one with the balls/insight to play it. CVD
laura, when composers write music like this they allow us to see a little bit of their soul. why did god allow only some of us to have such beauty within?
It can be said that the most "perfect" version is the original for piano and harmonium. It has both worlds, the aerophone and the percussive, and it’s very intimate too. Both the piano and organ versions are missing one of these two parts, but both work quite well, and the piece is marvellous
It sounds quite different on piano than it does on organ, though both are equally fine. Harold Bauer was a major "name" in classical music in the 1920's and was actually featured, along with violinist Efrem Zimbalist (father of "The FBI" star Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and grandfather of "Remington Steele" star Stephanie Zimbalist), playing a bit of Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata on the very first program of Vitaphone sound films, premiered in New York City on August 6, 1926.
I actually like this beautiful piece better on a piano than on an organ. It has such sweetness and clarity here that I literally had to remind myself to keep breathing. Just wonderful.
+mairzyd I heard this piece arranged by Franck himself for piano and harmonium. Very sweet & touching yet detached in the way that bellows instruments are. Underrated composer I feel.
chiv78 he is virtuosity in the purest sense, flawless -->utterly consistently perfect execution of fundamentals in combination with the rarest creativity, some comments say they forgot to breath hearing this , i feel opposite, when he plays it is like have been under water and the sound starts then suddenly I can breathe
Such stunning and impressive expression in this piano version... yet, let us never forget César Franck wrote this work, organ or piano, in hommage to a great friend he had just lost at the time in 1860... bringing even so much more in comprehension...
Onirico....mistico....celestiale......interpretazione sublime..Commuovente fino al pianto.. Dreamlike .... mystical .... celestial ...... sublime interpretation ... moving up to tears
What a wonderful touch. He plays the prelude with almost a Moonlight Sonata sensibility, the triplets even and relentlessly pushing the piece forward, just using dynamics and phrasing to create the necessary tension and relaxation. And then there's some delicate voicing in the variation that is quite beautiful. As for the composition itself, I don't understand why it's not more popular. I heard it for the first time in a recital just recently, and I've been going to piano recitals for decades. Just the prelude would make a wonderful encore.
The question is: Does this arrangement for piano equal or surpass Franck's original scoring for organ? I'm guessing Franck would be greatly pleased with both the piano arrangement and its performance..
I'm still partial to the organ arrangement. It's of no fault to this original arrangement and the performer's calibre. There's something about hearing the solo line performed on a french reed like Franck intended, using the swell for expression (while also being as expressional as the performer would like, since there is no decay in sound like a piano).
***** I still love this transcription! I guess that's why they make both chocolate and vanilla. I wish Franck was still around to hear this-I'd love to hear his opinion!
Harold Bauer, who transcribed this master work for the piano, was asked by Debussy to premiere "The Children's Corner" to the world. Mr. Bauer's autobiography gives a world of insights linking the great performers of yesteryear to our world today. He tells of listening to Clara Schumann, Anton Rubinstein, Hoffman and many others, and what he thought about their technical abilities and showmanship. Though a wonderful artist himself, his wisdom as a teacher still lives. Blessings Harold... wherever you are. CVD
I've know this piece for many years arranged for church organ, but I've also owned also a piano version by Aldo Ciccolini for some years, although I've rarely listened to the CD where it's included until now.. something that will change. I rediscover it today and realize what marvel it is... Magical delicate piece, maybe evne better on piano thna on church organ.. it takes another dimension, more intimate and less orchestral. Very passionate and very touching performance by Vladimir Viardo who I didn't know until now. Magnificent.
I wrote here a while ago at the Prelude, arioso and final "as if you were wading in honey ..." unbearable chromatic, wearing dense. And here - such a beauty, and I did not even know that it exists ... I immediately sought out the sheet music.
Anton Furnee Ja wat een blik hè, zo’n diepgang in zijn ogen... En een prachtige compositie inderdaad. Ik zeg: doen, studeren! Ik kijk ernaar uit het jou te horen spelen :-)
