Renaud Capuçon & Khatia Buniatishvili - Franck, Grieg & Dvořák: Works for Violin (2014) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

It was living legend Martha Argerich, Renaud Capuçon’s frequent duo partner and Khatia Buniatishvili’s mentor, who played musical matchmaker and brought these two brilliant performers together. Their concerts at Lugano Festival in 2012 were such a resounding success that the friendship stuck. Capuçon has been praised for his “intensely lyrical” tone and “gloriously rich sound” (BBC Music Magazine).

His poised, expressive playing provides the ideal counterbalance to the impassioned pianism of 27-year-old Khatia Buniatishvili, the “fiery young star” (The Independent) hailed by Argerich as “a young pianist of extraordinary talent. I was impressed by her exceptional pianistic gift, natural musicality, imagination and her brilliant virtuosity.” Together, the pair has devised a delectable program of Romantic sonatas for violin and piano – all, extraordinarily, composed within a year in 1886-87. César Franck’s Sonata in A major is one of the finest in the genre, beloved for its soaring melodies and sensuous, light-filled final movement. “Khatia and I met over Franck’s sonata,” Capuçon recalls. “This is the sonata that sealed our musical partnership, the sheer joy of playing together.”

Tracklist:
01. Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8: I. Allegretto ben moderato
02. Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8: II. Allegro
03. Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8: III. Recitativo-Fantasia. Ben moderato-Molto lento-a tempo moderato
04. Violin Sonata in A Major, FWV 8: IV. Allegretto poco mosso
05. Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 45: I. Allegro molto ed appassionato
06. Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 45: II. Allegretto espressivo alla Romanza
07. Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 45: III. Allegro animato
08. 4 Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150: I. Allegro moderato
09. 4 Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150: II. Allegro maestoso
10. 4 Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150: III. Allegro appassionato
11. 4 Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150: IV. Larghetto

Composers:
Dvorak, Antonin (1841-1904)
Franck, César Auguste (1822-90)
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup (1843-1907)

Personnel:
Renaud Capuçon, violin
Khatia Buniatishvili, piano

Recorded from 28–30 April 2014 at the Auditorium Campra, Conservatoire Darius Milhaud, Aix-en-Provence
Engineered by Jin Choi
Produced and edited by Michael Fine
Executive producer: Alain Lanceron