Search - Auguste Joseph Franchomme, Ensemble Explorations :: Franchomme: Le Violoncelle Virtuose

Virtuosity at its best!

JJM Peters | Nijmegen, The Netherlands | 12/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Apparently, Franchomme was one of the most famous and celebrated cellists if his time, but nowadays he is only known by the more enduring cello-students by his caprices which are obligatory virtuoso pieces in their repertoire. And that's a shame.As this disc neatly proves, Franchomme wrote some very nice pieces for his instrument, apart from the caprices. I deliberately use the word nice, for Franchomme's style is light and quintessentially French. These pieces do not explore the depths of human emotions, they don't show us the darker side of ourselves, don't lament lost loves or exploit the melancholy sound of the cello. As the title suggests they are mainly concerned with virtuosity. But don't let this title confuse you! This is not a showcase of all the tricks and technical feats that cellists are capable of (as so many other discs with resembling titles are). In every piece, music making comes first, virtuosity second (or third sometimes). Every piece is imaginative and fresh if not always truly original. The execution of this music couldn't be more perfect than on this disc. Roel Dieltiens (who the heck is he and why haven't we heard from him before?!?!) is simply superb. Every piece is, in its own way, virtuosic yet Dietiens never gives the impression that anything he plays is of any difficulty at all. His style (as his technique) is relaxed, easygoing and never ever virtuosic. The danger with these kinds of pieces is that you get a soloist whith a "look at me, I can play all these notes at a murderous tempo! Ain't I something?!" approach. Not Dieltiens. He knows how to bring this music to life not by stressing the virtuosity, but by playing them with a beautiful tone and real musicality. The accompaniment by the Ensemble Exploration is great. By the sound of it, it is not a large ensemble, which sometimes gives a surprisingly baroque-like sound to these romantic pieces. Overall, as virtuoso discs go, this one is (for a change) really worthwhile AND a nice introduction to some little-known French music."