Virtuoso Brilliance
The Enduring Legacy of Pierre Rode’s Works for Violin
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Violin Concertos Nos. 11 and 12
As a leading virtuoso who premiered Beethoven’s final violin sonata with the Archduke Rudolph, Rode was at the centre of European musical life, his compositions sitting at the apex of the French violin school. The final volume in this acclaimed series presents one of his most inspired pieces, the Violin Concerto No. 11 in D major, lyrically expressive and full of good-humoured zest. Violin Concerto No. 12 in E major is notable for the ingenious ways in which, through trills, staccato, spiccato and cadenzas, Rode heightens the music’s bravura.
‘If you’re ready to be dazzled by exceptional playing – and want to hear some pleasantly tuneful music besides – this is the disc for you.’
– WTJU
Violin Concertos Nos. 2 and 8
Pierre Rode was the star pupil of Viotti (the greatest violinist of the day), in time becoming the leading exponent of the French Violin School. A great virtuoso – he premiered Beethoven’s last Violin Sonata – he composed exclusively for his own instrument and his thirteen concertos, along with his Caprices, are his greatest compositional legacy. The Violin Concerto No. 2 is notable for its contrasts between challenging virtuosity and lyrical interludes, whilst Concerto No. 8 is one of his most beautiful works, with long-breathed melodies and dramatic flourishes. This is the fourth of five volumes containing all thirteen of Rode’s Violin Concertos.
‘I gave Eichhorn high marks for the previous volumes I reviewed and can recommend this one unreservedly as well, …Eichhorn provides his own cadenzas to the concertos…’
– Fanfare
Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 5 and 9
Pierre Rode’s concertos represent the full flowering of the French violin school, the origins of which can be traced back to his teacher Viotti’s arrival in Paris in 1782. Bold and youthful, the First Violin Concerto contrasts with the more pastoral and introspective moods of the Fifth Violin Concerto, while the Ninth was written during the composer’s stay in Russia. All three works share Rode’s signature finales which ‘sparkle with gracefulness, piquancy and impishness’. Performed using painstakingly prepared new editions, this is the third of five volumes containing all thirteen of Rode’s Violin Concertos.
‘The performances are lively and crisp and as expressive as the music will allow. …Recorded sound is excellent. There’s clarity, definition, and firmness to the orchestral tone, with Mr. Eichhorn’s playing, now sweet and caressing, now sterner and intense, nicely integrated into the overall sound picture.’
– American Record Guide
Violin Concertos Nos. 3, 4 and 6
Pierre Rode was one of the giants of the violin world. He was a performer of superb technique – he premiered Beethoven’s last Violin Sonata in Vienna – and wrote a large amount of music for his instrument, most prominently 13 concertos. They exhibit the highest qualities of the French School: grace, lyricism, fleetness and fluency. The Third is grandiose and brilliant, the Fourth is tauter and gloriously agile, whilst the Sixth is one of his greatest, most famous and complete statements in the concerto form. The first release in this series, (Concertos Nos. 7, 10 and 13 / 8.570469), earned Friedemann Eichhorn the highest plaudits: ‘sweetness of phrasing…with the delicacy of a caress – while skirting the technical minefields as if they didn’t exist.’ (Fanfare)
‘The Jena Philharmonic… under the Uruguayan conductor Nicolás Pasquet… work splendidly and modestly together and with Eichhorn to produce expressive, persuasive accounts of the three Concertos. Eichhorn’s own cadenzas are as dazzling as his playing, which is sweet of tone, fleet of finger and marvellously communicative.’
– MusicWeb International
Violin Concertos Nos. 7, 10 and 13
A student of Viotti, Pierre Rode was an eminent violinist active in early 19th century Paris who helped found the influential French violin school. Respected by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Spohr, among others, Rode is mostly known for his 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, yet his 13 Violin Concertos are rarely if ever played. Friedemann Eichhorn, the soloist on this world premiere recording, has commented: ‘Working with these scores was a wonderful adventure... Rode uses sophisticated and often rich orchestration... As a counterpoint to effective virtuoso violin writing, Rode emphasizes the singing quality of his instrument’. The Violin Concerto No. 7, the best known of the Concertos, was a favourite of Wieniawski, and one of the very few works (besides his own) that Paganini consented to play.
‘Friedemann Eichhorn’s…plays with a consistently attractive tone (silvery in the upper registers and resonant in the lower ones) coupled with a crispness of articulation (plenty of bite, for example, in Rode’s staccato passages) that makes the many brilliant passages reflect the light in gem-like tonal highlights.’
– Fanfare
12 Etudes for Violin Solo · Duos for 2 Violins
Pierre Rode’s music represents the full flowering of the French violin school founded by his mentor Giovanni Battista Viotti. Naxos’s recordings of his 24 Caprices (8.570958) and Violin Concertos Nos. 7, 10 and 13 (8.570469) have received critical accolades, with Nos. 3, 4 and 6 to be released on 8.570767. The virtuosic 12 Etudes heard here run the gamut from graceful to vigorously dramatic, testing the artistry and technique of the solo violinist to the utmost. The three Duos present fewer technical demands, concentrating instead on lyricism, elfin sprightliness and dynamic contrasts. Award-winning Nicolas Koeckert, who performs regularly as a soloist with leading orchestras from around the world, is joined on this recording by his father, the internationally-renowned chamber musician Rudolf Koeckert.
‘Nicolas Koeckert plays stylishly and with verve and shows that he is a real virtuoso. The programme is filled out with three duos that he plays with his father Rudolf…The Koeckerts play very well together, as you would expect.’
– American Record Guide
24 Caprices for Solo Violin
The first German artist to win the international Naumburg Violin Award in New York, Axel Strauss was acclaimed for his recording of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words (8.570213) as ‘an excellent violinist who plays these with wit and verve’. On this disc he revels in the virtuosic and expressive opportunities offered by Pierre Rode’s 24 Caprices, which preceded those of Paganini by several years. Rode’s Violin Concertos Nos. 7, 10 and 13, performed by Friedemann Eichhorn, are also available in the 19th Century Violinist Composers series (8.570469).
‘These are excellent performances that respect Rode’s classical poise while bringing out an emotional colour that’s already Romantic.’
– Gramophone
