Le Boeuf sur le toit

Just another disc of flashy French frippery? Actually, no. You may not have heard of violinist Renaud Capuçon but on the basis of this recital CD, he's an A-list player, no question. And it's a well chosen recital, too, combining the popular (Massenet's "Méditation", Saint-Saëns' Introduction et rondo capriccioso) with some slightly more off-beat choices (Berlioz's Rêverie et caprice, Milhaud's Le Boeuf sur le toit in its violin-and-orchestra incarnation). Capuçon plays a Strad that once belonged to the great Fritz Kreisler, and the sound that he makes is ravishing and richly multi-faceted, whether in Saint-Saëns' fiendish Danse macabre or Ravel's gypsy-inspired Tgizane. Perhaps the best is left till last--Milhaud's own arrangement of Boeuf (intended, though never used, as an accompaniment to footage of Charlie Chaplin). Already outrageous in spirit and harmony in its purely orchestral guise, the addition of a fiendish solo part (complete with a manic cadenza by Honegger) seems to have inspired even greater musical malarkey. It's a piece that falls flat on its face if the players aren't up to it, but that's simply not an issue here. Capuçon's brilliance is matched throughout the disc by the playing of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie under the inspired leadership of Daniel Harding, and the recording is a fine one. The very thing to brighten the darkest of days. --Harriet Smith

1. Introduction and Rondo capriccioso in A minor Op. 28 8:49