A towering figure in French music of the later 19th century, César Franck created a distinctive fusion of German Romanticism and French Classicism, enriching the symphonic, chamber, instrumental, vocal and sacred repertoires. As a teacher and mentor he gained admiration for his modesty and generosity while exercising a powerful influence on younger disciples such as Vincent d’Indy, Henri Duparc and Ernest Chausson. The César Franck Edition gathers together all his masterworks – among them the Symphony in D, Violin Sonata, Prélude, Fugue et Variation and, of course, ‘Panis Angelicus’ – in enthralling performances by musicians of the first rank. Running to 16 CDs, the collection includes a CD of transcriptions and arrangements, proving their fascination for a still greater diversity of interpreters than Franck might have imagined. The five CDs of historical recordings – dating back as far as 1907 – testify to the continuing growth of his reputation after his death in 1890, and to the vibrant performing tradition engendered by his genius.

10th December 2022 marks the 200th anniversary of César Franck (1822-1890). Born in Belgium, but subsequently a French citizen, he is a towering figure in French music of the later 19th century. Today, Franck is especially admired for his works for orchestra, organ and piano, and for his chamber music, while his hymn ‘Panis Angelicus’ is one of classical music’s ‘greatest hits’. As a teacher and mentor, he influenced a number of major French composers of the generation that followed him.

Artists

César Franck Edition 2022, Pascal Devoyon (piano), Aldo Ciccolini (piano), Kalevi Kiviniemi (organ), Marie-Claire Alain (organ), Augustin Dumay (violin), Jean-Philippe Collard (piano), The Muir String Quartet, Renaud Capuçon (violin), Khatia Buniatishvili (piano), Quatuor Parrenin, Lambert Wilson, Béatrice Uria-Monzon (mezzo-soprano), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone), Hartmut Höll (piano), Victoria de los Angeles (soprano), Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Camille Maurane (baritone), Louise Lebrun (soprano), Jane Berbié (mezzo-soprano), Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto), David Rendall (tenor), Peter Jeffes (tenor), Marcel Vanaud (baritone), François Loup (bass), Daniel Ottevaere (bass), Raphaël Tambyeff (organ), Yves Castagnet (organ), Henri Chalet (concuctor), Edgar Moreau (cello), David Kadouch (piano), Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), Pierre Barbizet (piano), Barbara Hendricks (soprano), Erik Lundkvist (organ), Tom Winpenny (organ), Soeur Marie Keyrouz (soprano), Blanche Selva (piano), Germaine Thyssens-Valentin (piano), Yves Nat (piano), Marcel Dupré (organ), André Marchal (organ), Édouard Commette (organ), Jascha Heifetz (violin), Arthur Rubinstein (piano), Quatuor Pro Arte, Samson François (piano), Jeanne-Marie Darré (piano), Quatuor Pascal, Berthe Auguez de Montalan (soprano), Georges Thill (tenor), Maurice Faure (piano), Elie Cohen, Beniamino Gigli (tenor), Chorus, Orchester der Staatsoper Berlin, Bruno Seidler-Winkler, Orfeon Donostiarra, Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre de Liège, Chœurs de la RTB-BRT, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Bath Festival Orchestra, Chœur de Radio France, Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Maîtrise de Notre-Dame de Paris, Stockholm Chamber Orchestra, The Boys of King’s College Choir, Cambridge, Orchestre d’Auvergne, Orchestre de l’Association des Concerts Pierné, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Michel Plasson, Paul Strauss, Armin Jordan, Riccardo Muti, Carlo Maria Giulini, Eric Ericson, Stephen Cleobury, Arie van Beek, Gaston Poulet, Philippe Gaubert, Piero Coppola