Franck: Symphony in D Minor – Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Berliner Philharmoniker & Daniel Barenboim

• César Franck (1822 - 1890): Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130:
• 1 Franck: Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130: I. Lento – Allegro non troppo 21:23
• 2 Franck: Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130: II. Allegretto 12:51
• 3 Franck: Symphony in D Minor, CFF 130: III. Allegro non troppo 12:55
• Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924): Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80:
• 4 Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80: I. Prélude. Quasi adagio 06:03
• 5 Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80: II. Fileuse. Andantino quasi allegretto 02:52
• 6 Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80: III. Sicilienne. Allegretto molto moderato 04:06
• 7 Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80: IV. La mort de Mélisande. Molto adagio 04:35
• Total Runtime 01:04:45

Info for Franck: Symphony in D Minor – Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande

In early June 2023, Daniel Barenboim conducted this French program in the Berlin Philharmonie; it was a concert that inspired the present recording for DG. In 2024 we celebrate the great French composer Gabriel Fauré 100 years after he died with this recording of the incidental music for ‘Pelléas et Mélisande’. Almost 50 years after his first DG recording of Franck's symphony with the Orchestre de Paris, Barenboim now presents a new interpretation with the Berliner Philharmoniker. In the outer movements in particular, he focuses on the large, monumental sound that emphasizes the hymnal aspect of Franck's symphony which fuses the spirit of Beethoven with French elegance. Barenboim and the a Berliner Philharmoniker understand each other perfectly. The two have a longstanding friendship: the maestro made his debut as a pianist here 60 years ago and conducted his first concert with the world-class Berlin orchestra in 1969. In this recording, conductor and orchestra are joined by Albrecht Meyer (oboe), Emanuel Pahud (flute) and Dominik Wollenweber (cor anglais).

Albrecht Mayer, oboe
Emmanuel Pahud, flute
Berliner Philharmoniker
Daniel Barenboim, conductor

Daniel Barenboim
one of the outstanding musical figures of our time, was born in Buenos Aires to parents of Russian-Jewish descent. He began piano lessons at the age of five with his mother, continued musical studies with his father, and gave his first official concert in Buenos Aires when he was seven. In 1952, the family moved to Israel, and two years later his parents took Daniel to Salzburg to take part in Igor Markevitch’s conducting classes. Following his debut in Vienna and Rome in 1952, he soon became known as one of the most versatile pianists of his generation. Always active as a chamber musician, he performed most frequently with his late wife, cellist Jacqueline du Pré, and violinists Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman. In song recitals, he has accompanied such artists as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Dame Janet Baker, Thomas Quasthoff, Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón.

From the mid-1960s, Barenboim began to devote more time to conducting. From 1975 to 1989 he was Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris. He made his opera debut in 1973 at the Edinburgh Festival and his Bayreuth Festival debut in 1981. In 1991, he succeeded Solti as Music Director of the Chicago Symphony and in 2006 was named “honorary conductor for life”. In 1992, he became General Music Director of Berlin’s Deutsche Staatsoper and in 2000, the Berlin Staatskapelle appointed him “chief conductor for life”. In 2006 he began a close relationship with La Scala and served as Music Director from 2007 to 2014. He also appears regularly with the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Wiener Philharmoniker.

In 1999, together with the late Palestinian-born writer and Columbia University professor Edward Said, Barenboim founded the West-Eastern Divan workshop and orchestra, bringing together talented young musicians from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia and Israel to make music under the guidance of some of the world’s finest musicians.

A prolific, prize-winning recording artist since making his first recordings for Philips in 1954, Daniel Barenboim began his close association with Deutsche Grammophon in 1972. His vast discography on the Yellow Label features the artist as conductor of orchestral works and operas, and as pianist in chamber music, song recitals and solo repertoire. In 2010, he signed a wide-ranging new contract with Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics.

Booklet for Franck: Symphony in D Minor – Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande