Description

GABRIEL WILLAUME (ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE, JULY 17, 1873 – ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE, NOVEMBER 16, 1946)

 

 

 

 

He was born as Albert Gabriel on July 17, 1873, in Romilly-sur-Seine.

Gabriel Willaume was a French violinist who served as the first violin of the Conservatory concerts.

He studied at the Paris Conservatoire.

He gave the world premiere of the Ravel piano trio at a recital of the Société Musicale Indépendante in Paris on 28 January 1915 with Alfredo Casella, piano, and Louis Feuillard, cello at the Salle Gaveau.

He performed with Camille Saint-Saëns.

During the 1914 war, he gave concerts in the Paris hospitals, magnificent sessions for the War Blind, and performed concerts throughout France.

Having become almost blind, he passed away on November 16, 1946, and was buried in Romilly-sur-Seine.

 

 

 

PAUL VIARDOT (COURTAVENEL, 20 JULY 1857 – ALGERIA, 1 DECEMBER 1941)

 

 

 

 

Viardot was born in Courtavenel, son of the distinguished singer and composer Pauline Viardot. The Belgian violinist Charles de Bériot, second husband of Paul’s aunt, Maria Malibran, remained close to the Viardots and took an interest in the boy, though Paul actually studied with Bériot’s successor at the Brussels Conservatoire, Hubert Léonard (also related by marriage to the Garcia clan). Though Carl Flesch dismissed Paul Viardot as a salon player, he was clearly more than that, as he toured widely. He was a close friend to Gabriel Fauré, who was briefly engaged to his sister Marianne, and dedicated his first violin sonata to him.

Viardot’s recordings are rare, and some were poorly engineered. But they are examples of the Franco-Belgian school of violin playing in its rather tight phase, before the loosening and relaxing influence of Eugène Ysaÿe.

Viardot’s compositions include two sonatas, several concert solos and smaller violin works as well as important contributions to the literature of music.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Gabriel Willaume Elégie, op. 143 (p. Saint-Saëns) (Saint-Saëns) Victor DB704-A

Gabriel Willaume Havanaise, op. 83 (p. Saint-Saëns) (Saint-Saëns) G&T 037922, 037923

Gabriel Willaume Le deluge, Prelude Op 45 (Saint-Saëns) Gramophone DB705 03280v 24-11-19

Gabriel Willaume Poème hongrois (Hubay) Aérophone 845

Gabriel Willaume Sérénade Op. 7 (Pierné) Aérophone 844

Paul Viardot Le déluge, Op. 45 Prelude (Saint-Saëns) Berliner 37923 618G

Paul Viardot Obertass Mazurka In G, Op.19 No.1 (Wieniawski) Berliner 37902 3681G

Paul Viardot Romance sans paroles (Savori) Berliner 37901 3682G

Paul Viardot Simple aveu, op. 25 (Jacquart) Berliner 37900 3685G