Father Franck

Donald Macleod examines Franck's unorthodox methods and why he was to become such a revered teacher.

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 too 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.

In 1872 his old professor of organ at the Paris Conservatoire retired after 53 years in the post. When Franck was appointed, no-one was more surprised than himself!

Les plaintes de la poupée
Stephen Hough, piano

Violin Sonata, op 23
I. Allegretto ben moderato
Lisa Batiashvili, violin
Giorgi Gigashvili, piano

Prélude, Choral et Fugue, M21
Bertrand Chamayou, piano

Les Béatitudes
No 2: Selig sind die sanftmutigen (Blessed are the meek)
Diana Montague, mezzo soprano
Keith Lewis, tenor
Gilles Cachemaille, baritone
Reinhard Hagen, bass
Gächinger Kantorei
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Helmuth Rilling, conductor

Le Chasseur maudit
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Jean-Luc Tingaud, conductor

Producer: Johannah Smith