César Franck - Organ Works (Marie-Claire Alain)

Information

Composer: César Franck

CD1

• Fantaisie in C major, Op. 16, M. 28
• Grande pièce symphonique in F sharp minor, Op. 17, M. 29
• Prélude, fugue et variation in B minor, Op. 18, M. 30
• Prière in C sharp minor, Op. 20, M. 32
• Fantaisie in A major, M. 35

CD2

1. Pastorale in E major, Op. 19, M. 31
2. Final in B flat major, Op. 21, M. 33
3. Cantabile in B major, M. 36
4. Pièce héroïque in B minor, M. 37
5. Choral No. 1 in E major, M. 38
6. Choral No. 2 in B minor, M. 39
7. Choral No. 3 in A minor, M. 40

Marie-Claire Alain, organ

Date: 1976 / 2004

Label: Warner Classics

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Review

The record buyer wishing to purchase a budget-price set of Franck's complete major organ works is well served at the moment. Together with this re-issued and re-mastered Erato recording of Marie-Claire Alain from 1976, there is Naxos's recording of Eric Lebrun on the unaltered Cavaillé-Coll of St Antoine des Quinze-Vingts in Paris; a stylish, supple, personal and all-round excellent recording. There is also Brilliant Classics' re-issue of Jean Guillou's gruesome recording for Dorian, recorded in St Eustache, now available for pennies from a certain well-known Dutch chemist chain, but this is easily dismissible.

Marie-Claire Alain's performances are still as well worth owning today as when they were originally released. These are committed, insightful readings of a very high quality. Sometimes her tempi, seen from the post-Joel-Marie Facquet world of 2004 seem a bit sluggish. However she never exaggerates at the slow end of the tempo-spectrum in a mis-guided attempt to conjure the mythical world of the 'père angélique', something so many organists are guilty of, especially for example at the beginning of the Grand Pièce Symphonique or in the Prière. In addition, I find her readings sometimes a little too calculated, but this is very much a matter of taste.

Alain chose as her instrument one of the mildest and most beautiful larger Cavaillé-Colls, a relatively late (1879) instrument in St François-de-Sales in Lyon, (3/45). It is, it goes without saying, perfectly suited to Franck's music. Unfortunately no specification is included. This is not acceptable. Lucid and interesting programme notes from Alain are however included and although my recommendation would still be for Lebrun (just), these ensure that Apex's release is well worth having.

— Chris Bragg

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César Franck (10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life. As an organist he was particularly noted for his skill in improvisation. Franck is considered by many the greatest composer of organ music after Bach. Franck exerted a significant influence on music. He helped to renew and reinvigorate chamber music and developed the use of cyclic form. He became professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872, his pupils included Vincent d'Indy, Ernest Chausson, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, Guillaume Lekeu and Henri Duparc.

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Marie-Claire Alain (10 August 1926 – 26 February 2013) was a French organist, scholar and teacher. She was the sister of the famous organist-composers Jehan Alain. Marie-Claire Alain was commonly deemed one of the most illustrious organists of her generation, and bore an international reputation. Her prolific recording career includes 260 recordings, making her the most-recorded classical organist in the world. She was a specialist in Bach, making three recordings of his complete organ works, as well as French organ music. Alain taught at the conservatory of Rueil-Malmaison and the Paris Conservatory.

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