Concerts with works byCésar Franck
César Franck was a Belgian-born composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who became a pivotal figure in French Romantic music. Known for his innovative compositions, including the Symphony in D minor and the symphonic poem "Le Chasseur maudit," Franck's work significantly influenced the development of French classical music in the late 19th century.
Overview
Quick overview of César Franck by associated keywords
CitiesFrequently performed in
In Germany
Berlin
10In Germany
Hamburg
8In The Netherlands
Amsterdam
6In France
Paris
4In Germany
Bamberg
3MusiciansFrequently performed by
Musician
Alan Gilbert
3Musician
Leif Ove Andsnes
3orchestra
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
3Musician
Arseniy Chubachin
2Musician
Efim Boico
2Musician
Gil Sharon
2Musician
Iveta Apkalna
2Musician
Kathryn Stott
2Musician
Niklas Schmidt
2Musician
Ralph Evans
2ProgramFrequently performed along with
Works by
Claude Debussy
12Works by
Gabriel Fauré
11Works by
Johann Sebastian Bach
8Works by
Franz Liszt
6Works by
Roger-Ducasse
6New Arrivals
These concerts with works by César Franck became visible lately at ConcertPulse.
Upcoming Concerts
Concerts in season 2024/25 or later where works by César Franck is performed
Tomorrow
Concert de midi et demi avec Zhao YUAN et Atomu ANDO
January 26, 2025
Cameron Carpenter
Philharmonie de Paris, Grande salle Pierre Boulez (Paris)
The flamboyant Cameron Carpenter takes on two musical monuments daringly arranged by himself: Mussorgsky’s phantasmagorias and Bach’s Goldberg Variations, the alpha and omega of his oeuvre.
Orgelkonzert: Nathan Laube
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
Don't miss it – because in this concert in our popular organ series, a phenomenal artist unleashes a musical firework: our guest is the American Nathan Laube, who holds a professorship at the Eastman School of Music in New York and is also a consultant for organ studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As a famous organist, he performs internationally in renowned concert halls and loves to engage his audiences and inspire them for the organ world. The programme is very romantic with outstanding works: His varied recital begins with a vibrant play of colours – in the concert overture written around 1885 by the blind composer Alfred Hollins. César Franck wrote an epic tone poem with orchestral effect with his Fantasie aus den drei Stücken für große Orgel in 1878 for the official opening of the first concert hall organ in France. Nathan Laube then also demonstrates his outstanding virtuosity with two arrangements of significant piano works. Mendelssohn wrote his glowing »Variations sérieuses« in 1841 with »true passion«: In the course of the work, a highly original theme is increasingly harmonically veiled and the expressive range is constantly widened. Liszt pointed far into the future with his »Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses« – and the piece »Funérailles« from this monumental cycle is also one of his most tragic compositions. The programme concludes with a highlight from the oeuvre of French composer Maurice Duruflé: with his three-movement organ suite, he created a milestone of the 20th century – and the finale toccata is still one of the most technically demanding pieces ever written for this instrument.
February 5, 2025
Sonates Françaises – Saskia Lethiec & Jérôme Granjon
February 6, 2025
Hadelich / Piemontesi / Music of the masters from the banks of the Seine
Narodowej Orkiestry Symfonicznej Polskiego Radia, Concert Hall (Katowice)
Stars up close! Today, Augustin Hadelich is a world-leading violinist who conquers the world's stages and performs with the best orchestras, including the NOSPR. He returns with a chamber programme, in duo with the versatile piano virtuoso Francesco Piemontesi. Their concert, which will be dominated by French music, is designed in a modern way. There is no shortage of the canon of violin music, represented by Franck's striking, emotional, late Romantic sonata and Debussy's subtle, intimate sonata. They are accompanied by a third, wonderfully melodic sonata by Francis Poulenc. Both predecessors will shine through, as Poulenc's sounds focus their qualities like a lens because our perception changes with the context. Old French music (by de Grigny and Rameau) will indicate the roots of the work of the masters from the Seine banks mentioned above. György Kurtág's handful of short musical gestures, meanwhile, will allow us to pause for a moment to take a fresh look at what we already know. Adam Suprynowicz Concert duration (intermission included): approximately 90 minutes
February 15, 2025
Elsa Grether / Mathias Weber
Elbphilharmonie, Kleiner Saal (Hamburg)
Three great works of chamber music that refer to the same basic note »A«. But what different worlds they come from in terms of character and form: Schumann's Sonata in A minor, Franck's in A major and Beethoven's monumental Opus 47 – the »Kreutzer Sonata« in A minor and A major. The sensational duo of internationally acclaimed artists, French violinist Elsa Grether and Hamburg Érard pianist Mathias Weber, captivates with its spirited, gripping, sensual and sensitive playing, in which both voices display equal flights of virtuosity as well as delicately merging magical passages. The Érard concert grand piano by César Franck from 1863, on which a breathtaking clarity and transparency of sound can be produced thanks to its parallel sides, lends the interpretation of these magnificent works a historical dimension.
February 16, 2025
Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Rachmaninoff and Franck
Het Concertgebouw, Main Hall (Amsterdam)
The Sunday Morning Concert brings you wonderful and much-loved compositions, performed by top musicians from the Netherlands and abroad. Enjoy the most beautiful music in the morning! You can make your Sunday complete by enjoying a delicious post-concert lunch in restaurant LIER.The Royal Concertgebouw is one of the best concert halls in the world, famous for its exceptional acoustics and varied programme. Attend a concert and have an experience you will never forget. Come and enjoy inspiring music in the beautiful surroundings of the Main Hall or the intimate Recital Hall.
February 28, 2025
The greatest of symphonies / Widor’s organ symphony
Narodowej Orkiestry Symfonicznej Polskiego Radia, Concert Hall (Katowice)
Daniel Roth is currently one of the most exquisite organists of our time and a wonderful improviser. His talent and achievement inspire awe in both critics and melomaniacs the world over. Superficially calm and phlegmatic, at the keyboard he is transformed into a volcano of energy. He can bring any composition to life and render it moving for the contemporary listener as well. The coming organ recital is not just a musical event, but a true celebration of virtuosity for organ music aficionados. The programme of the recital includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach, but also those by lesser-known composers, such as Alexandre-Pierre-François Boëly and Jehan Alain. While Roth’s exceptional musical sensitivity can find its expression in interpretations of both romantic and contemporary works, the culmination of the concert will be his performance of Charles-Marie Widor’s Organ Symphony No. 10 in D major, “Romane”, considered one of the most important pieces in the composer’s entire oeuvre, and simultaneously one of the greatest achievements among all French organ compositions ever to have been created. [Alexandra Kozowicz]Concert duration (intermission included): approximately 120 minutes
Giuseppe Mengoli dirigiert Werke von Tschaikowsky, Skrjabin und Franck
March 9, 2025
Close-up: The harp takes centre stage
Het Concertgebouw, Recital Hall (Amsterdam)
In this Close-up concert, the harp takes centre stage. The orchestra’s principal harpist Petra van der Heide and other Concertgebouw Orchestra musicians will be treating you to chamber works for various instrumental combinations. In a colourful series of compositions, the harp takes on an ever-different character – Romantic in Fauré’s Fantaisie for flute and harp, virtuoso in César Franck’s Prelude, Fugue and Variations, more supporting in Isang Yun’s Novellette, dreamy in Pierné’s Impromptu-caprice. Two works by Debussy, the kaleidoscopic Sonata and the famous harp solo Danse sacrée et Danse profane will be topped off by Pearl Chertok’s jazzy notes. Musicians of the Concertgebouw Orchestra perform their own programmes in the Recital Hall as part of the Close-up chamber music series. Each of these concerts is unique and performed only once as part of the series. It’s the very best way to experience the individual qualities of the orchestral musicians! These intimate concerts are organised by the Friends of the Concertgebouw and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
March 16, 2025
Alexandra Dovgan
Theater und Philharmonie Essen, RWE Pavillon (Essen)
Russian pianist Alexandra Dovgan, known for her mature interpretations, loves Romantic music, particularly Schumann's. Her playing brings depth and precision to his compositions. Now, after numerous competition wins, she focuses on performances, playing Schumann and Prokofiev in her Essen recital.
March 22, 2025
Karen Su and Ruben Plazier: Franck and Grieg
Het Concertgebouw, Recital Hall (Amsterdam)
For lovers of chamber music the Recital Hall is the venue of choice. You can hear the musicians breathe and you can practically touch them. This hall is also cherished by musicians for its beautiful acoustics and direct contact with the audience. In the Recital Hall you can hear the best musicians of our time. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Recital Hall for yourself!
March 23, 2025
Organ concert: Schmitt Koch Kabadaić
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
The stage is set for our favourite organist, who is also in great demand on the international scene: In the last organ concert of this season, Christian Schmitt will play our large concert hall organ – accompanied by our solo flutist Daniela Koch and our deputy solo violist Branko Kabadaić. The concert begins with a fascinating etude for organ pedal, which Christian Schmitt premièred in Zurich in 2023 – and about which the composer Maximilian Schnaus writes: »The musical idea illuminates the peripheral areas of the organ sound and the peripheral areas of our perception.« Liszt studied Bach’s organ works and passions intensively, particularly during his time in Weimar – and his affection for this Baroque master found intimate expression in the Andante »Aus tiefer Not«, written in 1859. Paul Hindemith wrote this touching funeral music on a concert tour in London on 21 January 1936 within a few hours after King George V had died there on the previous day. Bach’s masterful Sonata in G major captivates with its skilful interweaving of voices between the two instruments. For César Franck, it was clear: »Mon orgue? – C'est un orchestre!« And that is exactly how his magnificent musical creations sound – including the »Grande pièce symphonique«, completed in 1862, which even bears the required orchestral gesture in its title. Tōru Takemitsu, the cosmopolitan and influential composer from Japan, created an almost revolutionary work in 1971 with his flute piece »Voice« – because the human voice is included here in an interesting way. To wrap things up, the concertino by Cécile Chaminade, written in 1902, impresses with its breathtaking virtuosity, passionate gestures, shimmering harmonies and yearning melodies.
April 17, 2025
Pianist Roman Borisov: Beethoven, Rachmaninov and more
Het Concertgebouw, Recital Hall (Amsterdam)
For lovers of chamber music the Recital Hall is the venue of choice. You can hear the musicians breathe and you can practically touch them. This hall is also cherished by musicians for its beautiful acoustics and direct contact with the audience. In the Recital Hall you can hear the best musicians of our time. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Recital Hall for yourself!
May 8, 2025
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Leif Ove Andsnes / Alan Gilbert
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
Is it just a cliché to assume that French music is particularly sophisticated? Or is there more than just a grain of truth in it? An exciting question. Alan Gilbert and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra explore this question when they take a trip to France with Leif Ove Andsnes as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival. With three visionary works that rarely find their way into the concert hall and illuminate the festival motto »Future« in a unique way.
May 9, 2025
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Leif Ove Andsnes / Alan Gilbert
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
Is it just a cliché to assume that French music is particularly sophisticated? Or is there more than just a grain of truth in it? An exciting question. Alan Gilbert and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra explore this question when they take a trip to France with Leif Ove Andsnes as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival. With three visionary works that rarely find their way into the concert hall and illuminate the festival motto »Future« in a unique way.
May 11, 2025
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Leif Ove Andsnes / Alan Gilbert
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
Is it just a cliché to assume that French music is particularly sophisticated? Or is there more than just a grain of truth in it? An exciting question. Alan Gilbert and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra explore this question when they take a trip to France with Leif Ove Andsnes as part of the Hamburg International Music Festival. With three visionary works that rarely find their way into the concert hall and illuminate the festival motto »Future« in a unique way.
May 15, 2025
Gastspiel Wuppertal | Klavierfestival Ruhr
June 3, 2025
Iveta Apkalna, organ
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
Iveta Apkalna pursues two milestones in organ music: Johann Sebastian Bach’s enormous Chaconne and César Franck’s ground-breaking »Grande pièce symphonique«, whose title alludes to the symphonic sound possibilities of the organ and fully exploits them. The titular organist of the Elbphilharmonie complements her solo programme with three further pieces, which also showcase »her« instrument in full splendour. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chaconne was originally composed for violin. The contrapuntal entanglements which Bach created within it have, however, inspired several composers to arrange this work for organ. Also, the »Danse Macabre« by Camille Saint-Saëns, originally composed for voice and piano, only became famous in its orchestral version and sounds just as very wonderfully eerie on the organ. César Franck dedicated his »Prélude, fugue et variation« to his friend and organ colleague Saint-Saëns; the three movements seem very different and yet hang together thematically. As one of the forefathers of organ symphony, Franck is at the inception of a development which had far-reaching consequences for organ building and organ music: to this day (and so also at the Elbphilharmonie), the thousand organ pipes of one instrument should ideally cover the full range of symphonic sound. Iveta Akpalna, who, as the titular organist, knows the Elbphilharmonie organ like hardly anyone else, can exploit the entire colourful richness of the instrument to perfectly set the scene for each piece of her programme.
June 15, 2025
Guest performance
Philharmonie Berlin, Main Auditorium (Berlin)