Philippe Graffin, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Jean-Jacques Kantorow - Rêves Eugène Ysaÿe 1858–1931
Avie Records, 2024
Eugène Ysaÿe is enjoying some well-deserved recording attention. There have been three recent recordings of the composer’s Six Sonatas for Violin Solo, op. 27 by Daniel Matejca on Supraphon, Elena Denisova on TYXART, and Hilary Hahn on Deutsche Grammophon. Now comes the world premieres of two orchestral pieces, the Violin Concerto in E minor and Poème Concertant.
The Violin Concerto came together in pieces. Following the recent discovery of a first movement, further manuscripts that complete the work were uncovered – one a full orchestration, others for violin and piano brought together by Ysaÿe expert, Xavier Falques. Violinist Philippe Graffin and Falques reconstructed the concerto resulting in this world premiere recording of the complete work.
It is unknown why Ysaÿe never completed his Violin Concerto in E minor in 1885. He did start composing another violin piece, a Poème concertant, which was also recently discovered in manuscript form. Inspired by Ysaÿe’s love for his pupil Irma Sethe, a love that was reciprocated by Sethe, the composition ended when the relationship did, leaving the piece to languish for a century. Its discovery and arrangement by Graffin and Falques have led to this welcome release of previously unrealized music.
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Jean-Jaques Kantorow synergistically react with Graffin in delivering a robust exposition of French Late Romantic Music. Ysaÿe’s music is full of pathos and drama befitting a virtuoso composer. Passionate and emotive both the Poème Concertant and the Violin Concerto seethe with virtuosity, requiring much of the soloist. Graffin is up to the challenge, wrestling Ysaÿe’s unfinished works into a finished and fully realized form.
Graffin supplements the recording with three compositions for violin and piano: 2 Mazurkas de Salon, Op.10, Rêve d’enfant (“A child’s dream”), which he dedicated to Ysaÿe’s youngest son Antoine. Accompanied by pianist Marisa Gupta, Graffin navigates these chamber pieces with wit and intelligence, demonstrating and partaking of the passion that was Eugène Ysaÿe.