Karol Beffa

Un Francais a Rio

Un Français à Rio (A Frenchman in Rio) is a collection of five pieces for violin and piano. The pieces can be played separately and each piece is a tribute to a famous composer of the 1920s.

With their harmonie sequences and swaying rhythms creating an imaginary choreography, '11 Tribute to Poulenc' (#1) and .11 Tribute to Honegger' (#4) seem to echo each other. .11 Tribute to Villa-Lobos' (#2) subtly unfolds its light touches and only the crackling energy of the violin's trills does interrupt the soft murmur of the bariolage. In #3, Milhaud's playful, cheeky spirit translates as spiced-up harmonies over an eighth-note ostinato. The fifth and last piece of the collection -.11 Tri bute to Auric'-is a series of variations on a lullaby-like theme, sometimes restless, sometimes serene and soothing.

Karol Beffa