Fantaisie Caractéristique sur deux célèbres Romances de Lafont is based on songs "C’est une Larme" and "Le Départ du jeune Marin" by the virtuoso violinist Charles Lafont (1781-1839). His songs were also used by other composers such as Franz Liszt and Henri Herz. Lafont also served as arranger for Duo et variations sur la romance "C'est une larme" based on his own song by Henri Herz. Anton Hekking played it with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on 20 May 1891 and 21 January 1891 and with the Boston Pops on 9 July 1891. Fantaisie Caractéristique is dedicated to Nicolas de Wladimiroff (Nikolay Vladimiroff), an aristocrat and amateur cellist from St. Petersburg.
Yuriy Leonovich, cello
Kristin Leonovich, piano
Recorded live on 27 June 2024 at Harpe Chapel, First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC, for the Varna International Festival.
Microphones: AEA R84A (cello), Schoeps MK22 pair in ORTF (piano)
Recorded: Zoom F8n
Camera: Sony AX43
Introduction (tutti) 0:00
Introduction (solo) 0:50
Theme (C’est une Larme) 4:28
Variation 1 6:05
Variation 2 7:05
Theme (La Marin) 8:35
Octave Variation 10:18
Lento 12:14
Finale 13:46