César Franck and Ernest Chausson: this MDG top-interest special edition presents chamber music by two French composers connected by much more than just the teacher-pupil relationship. The first release of their string quartets, Franck’s Piano Quintet, and Chausson’s Piano Quartet by the Belgian Spiegel String Quartet and the pianist Jan Michiels received an enthusiastic reception from music experts and the listening public alike. Chamber music did not have an easy time in France until Cesar Franck joined forces with like-minded individuals to establish the Societe nationale de musique in 1871. The society’s declared goal was to break the dominance of German chamber music- which was also a political priority after France had come out on the losing side of the Franco-Prussian War. And so Frank developed a clear style of melodic emphasis with anticipations of the impressionist era. During the last decade of Franck’s life he celebrated the greatest musical successes. Along with the two works recorded here, this period witnessed the composition of his famous Violin Sonata.
