Composer: César Auguste Franck
Performer: Nikolai Lugansky
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Release: 2020
Size: 888 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Prélude, Choral et Fugue, M21
01. Prélude. Moderato
02. Choral. Poco più lento – Poco Allegro
03. Fugue. Tempo I°
Prelude, Aria et Final M23 (1886 / 7)
04. Prélude. Allegro moderato e maestoso
05. Aria. Lento
06. Final. Allegro molto ed agitato
Prélude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18
07. I. Andantino. II. Lento (Arr. pour piano)
08. III. Allegretto ma non troppo (Arr. pour piano)
09. IV. Andantino (Arr. pour piano)
10. Choral No. 2 in B minor, M. 39
Given the paucity of César Franck’s piano music on disc, Nikolai Lugansky’s focus on this composer is to be commended. On his third release for harmonia mundi, the Russian pianist reveals an organ master strongly attached to the musical forms inherited from J.S. Bach: the prelude, the fugue, and the chorale. Translated to the piano keyboard, Franck’s music, with its expansively conceived structures, requires a completely fresh approach that puts the greatest performers to the test: here, Lugansky took on an additional challenge by preparing his own transcription (a brilliant one, at that!) of Franck’s celebrated Choral pour grand orgue No.2.