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Donald Macleod follows César Franck's activities during the Siege of Paris and its aftermath, ranging from coal carrier to opera composer

It seems as if Franck's diffident character positively hindered his advancement. He wasn't interested in moving in glamorous social circles, and lived, according to one visitor who called on him the year before he died, "like a monk". This natural reticence may be why the composer of popular works such as the Violin Sonata, the Piano Quintet, a ground-breaking String Quartet and the glorious Symphony in D found that all to often his critics were quick to find fault and were slow to recognise his worth. He had some disappointments to bear, in an age when opera was thriving, none of his four operas saw the light of day in his lifetime. Recognition for his two major choral works, La Rédemption and Les Béatitudes was to come after his death in 1890 at the age of 67.

Franck did enjoy some support. Early on, Liszt recognised his talent and did his best to help him get his work performed, and later on a band of his pupils, among them the composer Vincent d'Indy did their best to promote their beloved teacher's music.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Franck's birth, Donald Macleod spends the week delving a bit deeper into this enigmatic and complex character from his early compositions which pay homage to Liszt and the pianistic tradition of Hummel, to the wonderfully vivid pictorial canvas of Le Chasseur maudit.

Despite the privations caused by years of civil unrest, arts and culture did find some outlets in Paris. In 1879 Franck created a domestic drama and a public stir with the production of his brilliant piano quintet. .

Eglogue, op 3 (excerpt)
Ashley Wass, piano

Stradella, arr. Luc van Hove
Overture
Orchestra of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie
Paolo Arrivabeni, conductor

Hulda, Act IV (excerpt)
Souviens-toi de celle qui t'aime
Hélas !
C'est mon amour !
Ah ! Sur ton sein je me repose
Katharina Ruckgaber, soprano, Thordis
Irina Jae-Eun Park, soprano, Swanhilde
Joshua Kohl, tenor, Eiolf
Freiberg Philharmonic Orchestra
Fabrice Bollon, conductor

Patria
Tassis Christoyannis, baritone
Jeff Cohen, piano

Piano Quintet
III: Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco
Marc- André Hamelin, piano
Tákács Quartet

La Rédemption
VII: Choeur des hommes, part III
VIII. Chœur des anges. "Nous sommes au ciel"
IX. Air de l'Archange. "Le ot se lève"
Eve-Maud Hubeaux mezzo-soprano
Vlaams Radio Choir
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège
Hervé Niquet, conductor

Producer: Johannah Smith