Still on Franck's Sonata

The last movement is the most famous movement. An allegretto poco mosso, we have the calmest yet the most passionate theme. Composed in a fugue form, Franck brilliantly brought out a sense of ultimate serenity and melodic beauty with just an extremely simple tune. If we always assume that 'fugue' is just an auditory complexity associated with complicated counterpoints of JS Bach, this is proven otherwise with Franck. The piano leads the role, and the violin comes in playing the exact same melody few beats later. This whole phrase is repeated 4 times before the movement ends. In between, the motif is played intensely - the violin soars with urgency while the piano rushes violently.

This sonata requires perfect balance of instrumental playing and fullest emotion to project its aromatic beauty. None did as well as the partnership of Kyung Wha Chung and Radu Lupu. Chung's violin is ever sweet sounding, and Lupu's radical approach to the piano playing by not using the pedals creates a crisp but solid accompaniment. None quite match their coupling, and this is something we all would like to listen again and again.

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