Frank Martin - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1951)

Felix Froschhammer, violin
Alexander Mayer, conductor
Ensemble Symphonique Neuchâtel

9.11.2014, live in Temple du Bas, Neuchâtel
Camera: David Guyot

[bartjebartmans]

Written for Wolfgang Schneiderhan and I have that recording. Froschhammer makes an excellent case for this underrated masterpiece. Thanks for sharing!!!

[DavidA-psqr]

I'm a fan of Frank Martin's music and this is an excellent performance. But it has to be said that some of his music is not the easiest to listen to. So full marks must go to the parents of the impeccably behaved children sitting in the audience. For children of that age to sit through over half an hour of this work is a feat in itself. Some adults can't do it! So well done, you should be very very proud parents.

[gerardbegni]

A very beautiful soft piece by Frank Martin which differs from his usual style, more contrapunctic. This as a fascinating piece. It is soft, but the underlying structures are very firm and precisely articulated. A very beautiful concerto.

[treesny]

Thank you for posting this performance. Martin composed the concerto shortly after writing his Five Ariel Songs for a cappella chorus (his only settings of English-language texts), and there's a direct quote from "Come Unto These Yellow Sands" near the start of the first movement. More generally, he felt that the first and last movements reflected some of the ethereal character of the spirit Ariel in Shakespeare's "The Tempest, " which Martin later set as an opera. I particularly love the middle (slow) movement of this wonderful work.

[bertrandjacques]

I knew some sacred pieces by Franck Martin and I am happy to discover this concerto. Thanks for posting... :o)

[wendylund]

Despite studying music, I am unfamiliar with Martin's music. Just now, reading Yehudi Menuhin's autobiography Unfinished Journey, hearing that Menhuin rated Martin only after Bartók as greatest composer, time to listen and learn. Thank you.

[roward]

As relatively little known as this work is, I rate it among the top ten violin concertos of the 20th century. Some others: Bartok, Barber, Hindemith, Rozsa, Walton.

[odrioper]

Marvelous! I did not know this concerto, Fantastic performance too.

[MichaelConwayBaker]

A wonderful masterpiece. Great performance by soloist and orchestra!

[teebeedahbow]

Every note is put where it should be, every note means something...

[markbarsamian]

My first time hearing a work of Frank Martin. Wonderful. Thanks for posting.

[byjfritch]

I have heard a different amazing work of his. Totally underrated

[marklee]

Yes, his music is contrapuntal, but very good & challenging. To the few who may not know it, you should seek out the Stokowski recording of the Petit symphonie concertante; by far the best recorded performance of that work.

Mark Lee
Austin, Tx

[pianomanhere]

Until tonight I never just stopped and listened to this beautiful concerto. It is a remarkably lyrical and meritorious work that we really should hear more often as part of standard international repertoire. Thank you for sharing this.

[lcfstrauss]

Musique-Fantastique! Mais Prise de vue.... On voie plus de publique que de Soliste. ça dérange. P.S. Merci pour la magnifique version de cet concerto!

[davidluck]

solid performance of a first-rate 20th century violin concerto. I've got about two dozen of Martin's major works on my CD shelf, and it seems he almost always produced a masterpiece.

[RichardASalisbury]

Poignant, and gorgeous without being lush.

[gerardbegni]

This concerto is unusually calm and quiet, event during the great soli or the orchestral tutti. Writing in such a way is very challenging. Frank Martin suceeded to ceate that atmosphere.

[jameswginn]

The last movement sells the piece for me.

[anorcia]

I would like to know what the children thought of the music.they are unbiased and honest.