Philippe Graffin; Martyn Brabbins: Royal Flemish Philharmonic - Jongen & Lazzari (S): Violin Concertos

The Romantic Violin Concerto series reaches Belgium and the music of Joseph Jongen, a composer more celebrated for his organ music now, but who was equally admired in his day for his orchestral and chamber works. Jongen studied at the Li�ge Conservatoire where he heard the great violinist Eug�ne Ysaye and composer-conductors Vincent d�Indy and Richard Strauss.In this new album Philippe Graffin (a welcome and familiar presence in this series) collaborates with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic and Martyn Brabbins in Jongen�s Violin Concerto, one of the composer�s first substantial works. It was described by his contemporary Florent Schmitt as �one of the finest violin concertos�; and he admired the �outpouring of warm lyricism� and �lush profusion of themes and rhythms�.Also included are other works for violin and orchestra, and a Rapsodie for the same forces by Italian Romantic Sylvio Lazzari (1857�1944) who was influenced�as was Jongen�by the music of Cesar Franck.