Has there ever existed a milder, more humble man who was also a great composer than César Franck? His ambitions were simple: to serve music and God with equal ­reverence. Name a famous Belgian! Well, ...

To mark the 200th anniversary of Franck's birth, Donald Macleod spends the week delving a bit deeper into this enigmatic and complex character and his music.

Rouvali and Philharmonia were attentive to colour, but Perianes again failed to achieve any sense of mystery or sensuousness.

Demessieux’s concert repertoire included the complete organ works of Bach from memory, and her mind-numbing technique is evident in her recordings, including the world-premiere recording of Franck ...