Belgium-born composer and violinist Eugene Ysaÿe was known throughout his career as one of the last great artists of the romantic era. Though he was befriended and admired by other romantic giants like Franck, Debussy, and Chausson, he also had an affinity for the Baroque style. This album, which features world-renowned violinist Charles Castleman playing Ysaÿe's Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, celebrates Ysaÿe's dream of meshing the baroque and romantic cultures.
Definite J.S. Bach-inspired motives are sprinkled throughout the Sonata No. 2, where Ysaÿe actually inserts a few well-known melodies from Bach's Violin Partita No. 3. The Sonata No. 4 pays tribute to the style of Fritz Kreisler and uses the composer's Viennese rubato and parlando bowing style.
Castleman does an excellent job of imitating these historic figures as he plays the interesting phrases in the style they were meant to be played. Even though every note is played in its intended place, Castleman manages to make every phrase sound improvised, giving it the romantic flair Ysaÿe intended.