César Franck (1822 -1890)
Sonata in A Major
Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907)
Sonata in C Minor, Op. 45
Lyric Pieces / Lyrische Stücke (arr. Vladimir Godar)

The career of Cesar Franck is a curious one. Destined by his father for the concert-platform as a virtuoso pianist, he achieved instead a position of influence among his own circle in Paris as a composer and organist, distrusted and never fully accepted by the wider musical establishment.

Franck was born in Belgium, but moved to Paris as a student, at the insistence of his father. He held various positions in churches in Paris and in 1872 became organist at the Conservatoire. The appointment was an unexpected one, since Franck was unskilled in musical politics, normally an essential ability. His openness led, in fact, to further unpopularity, as his organ students profited from his ability as a composer, to the resentment of the Conservatoire professors of composition.

Franck's singl