Both Pascal Rogé and Lorin Maazel were one of the mainstays of the Decca roster for several years, the former famed for the clarity of his vision in much French music, the latter recording vasts tracts of repertoire with both the Vienna Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra, in often white-hot performances. The Franck Symphony blazes away with both conviction and sonic distinction. Its original LP coupling, the ‘Variations symphoniques’, receives its first international release on CD. And Bartók’s ‘Opus 1’, his Rhapsody for piano and orchestra which, although a juvenile work, was performed by Bartók all the way through his piano-playing career. It was recorded by Rogé as a companion to his thrilling recordings of the Bartók concertos with Weller and the LPO.
CESAR FRANCK
Symphony in D minor
Variations symphoniques for piano & orchestra*
Pascal Rogé, piano
The Cleveland Orchestra
Lorin Maazel
BÉLA BARTÓK
Rhapsody for piano & orchestra, Sz. 27 (Op. 1)
Pascal Rogé, piano
London Symphony Orchestra
Walter Weller
*FIRST INTERNATIONAL RELEASE ON CD
Recording Producer: Michael Woolcock
Balance Engineers: Kenneth Wilkinson, Colin Moorfoot, Michael Mailes (Franck); Kenneth Wilkinson, John Dunkerley (Bartók)
Recording Locations: Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, USA, May 1976 (Franck); Kingsway Hall, London, UK, June 1976 (Bartók)
‘incisiveness and clarity’ (Franck: Symphony) Gramophone
‘The delicacy of [Rogé’s] playing in the slow section, is most beautiful in its cool clarity’ (Franck: Variations symphoniques) Gramophone
‘The orchestral playing [in the Symphony] is crisp and polished and the performances are exciting … In the ‘Variations’, Pascal Rogé shows himself to be particularly sensitive to dynamic shadings and reveals a fine blend of intelligence and technique. … Brilliant recording. (Franck) Penguin Guide
‘With the help of vivid and brilliant Decca recording (Kingsway Hall the venue), Rogé and Weller present a colourful and strong reading, bringing out the Lisztian echoes’ (Bartók: Rhapsody) Gramophone