Classical Music | Music for Flute

Claude-Paul Taffanel

Fantasy on Der Freischutz by Weber   Play

Jessica Warren-Acosta Flute

Recorded on 08/26/2008, uploaded on 12/30/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Fantasy on Der Freischutz by C.M. von Weber            Claude-Paul Taffanel

Paul Taffanel's Fantaisie sur le Freyschutz is perhaps the most expressive of the composer's four operatic fantasies. Although the variations are very taxing for the player, they seem to grow naturally from within the given melodies, rather than being superimposed as a virtuosic afterthought. The treatment of Agathe's aria from Act 2 is particularly atmospheric, while later ­in a particularly imaginative touch, Taffanel gives the original Act 3 flute solo to the piano and answers it with gentle counterpoint on the flute. The quality of the piano writing is a measure of Taffanel's artistry in all his fantasies, in sharp contrast to the "chordal vamping" accompaniments of so many similar works by his contemporaries.     Jessica Warren-Acosta