César Franck
Sound
- Born
- December 10, 1822 · Liège, Belgium
- Died
- November 8, 1890 (age 67)
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life.
Born in Liège, he gave his first concerts there in 1834 and studied privately in Paris from 1835, where his teachers included Anton Reicha. After a brief return to Belgium, and a disastrous reception for an early oratorio Ruth, he moved to Paris, where he married and embarked on a career as teacher and organist. He gained a reputation as a formidable musical improviser, and travelled widely within France to demonstrate new instruments built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
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In 1858, he became organist at the Basilica of St. Clotilde, Paris, a position he retained for the rest of his life. He became professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872; he took French nationality, a requirement of the appointment. His pupils included Vincent d'Indy, Ernest Chausson, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, Guillaume Lekeu and Henri Duparc. After acquiring the professorship, Franck wrote several pieces that have entered the standard classical repertoire, including symphonic, chamber, and keyboard works.
Known for
Behind the camera20
- 2025Ohio Sonata Music
- 2025Asmik Grigorian in Kaunas St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral Original Music Composer
- 2024A Royal Overture Festival international de Colmar Original Music Composer
- 2021West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim @ Salzburg Festival 2021 Original Music Composer
- 2017The ROH Live: The Dream / Symphonic Variations / Marguerite and Armand Music
- 2011Martha Argerich & Mischa Maisky Compositors
- 2007Proust ou les Intermittences du cœur Music
- 2005Entre ciel et terre Original Music Composer
- 1988The Power of Speech Music
