Alexander Gurning

Saténik Khourdoïan & Alexander Gurning – Ysaÿe, Fauré & Saint-Saëns (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 55:02 minutes | 1019 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Fuga Libera

“French” works (although Ysaÿe was Belgian…) from 1877 with Fauré’s First Sonatathrough to 1908’s Extase by Ysaÿe: that’s what is on offer here from French violinist Saténik Khourdoïan, a regular at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Radio-France Philharmonic the Orchestre de Marseille, Roque-d’Anthéron, the Grange du Meslay, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France-Musique and France-Culture – and we should also mention that she is the first solo violin of the Monnaie de Bruxelles. Her selection shines a light on a whole range of French art which stands resolutely off to one side of the idiosyncratic route sketched out by Debussy: Saint-Saëns, Fauré and Ysaÿe will always remain in the ambit of rigorously-written French romanticism. The Caprice en forme de valse by Saint-Saëns, in its wild transcription by Ysaÿe, gives us a sense of the real value of Saténik Khourdoïan’s undertaking. This is an excellent calling card for a violinist who has still got plenty to say.

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