Vieuxtemps: Innermost Voices

Famed for his profoundly Romantic violin concertos, Henry Vieuxtemps revolutionised violin playing in the 19th century. His loyal student Eugène Ysaÿe pointed out that his teacher's work was 'a treasure to be protected at all costs' and 'ought to be known in its entirety'. Vieuxtemps' bicentenary in 2020 provided an ideal opportunity to unearth lost and often unpublished manuscripts passed down through the composer's family. These rediscovered gems include the world premiere of the Fantasy for Voice, Violin and Orchestra, presented here in a piano reduction, an amazing work in which the voice, evoking the composer's memories in a wordless vocalise, wraps itself around the notes of the violin.