Album insights
In his new double album, "Belle Époque," Daniel Hope combines popular and rare repertoire that emerged in Europe during the "golden" period between the Franco-German War and the onset of World War I in 1914. This era has long fascinated Hope, who has expressed a desire to travel back in time to experience the Parisian salons and cultural ambiance. "Belle Époque" brings together works for solo, orchestra, and chamber music, showcasing a blend of late Romanticism, Impressionism, and 2nd Viennese School music. Daniel Hope displays his renowned rich and warm tone in well-known pieces like Massenet's "Méditation" and Debussy's "Rêverie." Additionally, the album features lesser-known masterpieces by composers such as Schoenberg, Rachmaninoff, and Elgar, capturing the melancholic and bittersweet essence that often defined the music of that era.