Described as one of Franck's "tightest and most finished works", the Variations symphoniques of 1885 nevertheless got off to a slow start. The premiere, given in Paris on May 1, 1886 with the famous pianist Louis Di?mer as soloist and the composer at the podium, was given little notice at the time. Even a second performance in January of 1887 didn't help. Only after the composer's death and the advocacy of Franck's students D'Indy, Duparc, Chausson...