Customer Reviews

Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39

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Alkan's Magnum Opus (39) has been seen recorded many times over the past years in part, as well as in whole. Jack Gibbons demonstrates that his interpretation of this monstrously challenging set stands at the very top of the list. Out of the 250+ CDs I own, I would have to say that this is the best. Gibbons' "Comme le Vent" is breathtakingly virtuostic and full of velocity. His "En Rythm Molossique" is a great wall of power and control, his "Scherzo Diabolique", feindish and scary. This recording of the "Symphonie" is fantastic, second only to Lewenthal's. His "Concerto" is very ordered, the finale a dazzling display of pianism (despite the missed note in the final black-key run). The "Ouverture" is the best recorded yet, and shows the true depth of Alkan's creations; I could write a review on just this piece! His "Festin" is a bit slow, but he never overexagerates the tempos. The other pieces added to the first disc ruin one's picture of the all-out-bravura crazed Alkan, replacing it with a sensitive, profound one. This CD is truly incredible. If you have any affection for Art Music whatsoever, this recording is a must have!

Charles-Valentin Alkan was rightly marked by Busoni as one of the 5 greatest post-Beethoven composers for piano (the others being Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, & Brahms). That his amazing music is not as well know is tragic. Alkan was close friends with Chopin & Liszt, and an influence on both of them (as well as Brahms). His music is the most technically formidable prior to Godowsky. This CD is a recording of Alkan's most remarkable work (the Opus 39 12 Etudes in the Minor Keys). It could not be better performed by Jack Gibbons. Not only is Gibbons up to the pieces cruel technical demands, but he produces a lush rich tone that is a joy in itself. Listen to his performance of the Symphony for Solo Piano (Etudes 4 - 7): there is not a better recorded performance available. Any piano lover absolutely must have these CDs. They are a treasure.

Gibbons' occasional technical vulnerabilities give these performances a human edge missing from hamelin's recordings. Alkan's op39 is music the pianist must fight with. Blood and sweat are a must. Its raw fury can be lost when cooly presented (ala Hamelin). The symphony finale oozes raw excitement under Gibbons' hands. Like in a disaster movie, we root for the protagonist and hope he survives through to the end. A most rewarding experience.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Comme Le Vent, Like the wind, is a firey, unrelenting deluge of notes which, if played at Alkan's specified metronome marking, travels at the rate of 160 bars per minute -- 20 densely packed pages in just 4'30," and Gibbons falls unbelievably only 7 seconds short! En Rhythm Molossique and Scherzo Diabolico, both technically wicked compositions, receive commanding and sure-footed performances. The Symphony further demonstates Gibbons proficiency in adherence to tempo and metronome markings inspite of taxing athletic and visceral demands, giving it a great sense of impetus, space, and drive. The Concerto, in his hands, is less classical and crisp than Hamelin's, but more wildly romantic; an extraordinary feat of virtuosity. Le festin d'Esope and Allegro Barbaro in all their fiendish and barbaric virtuosity get very poetic readings, very rare indeed... The more slow pieces all fall within the heartbeat, receiving sensitive, simple, and atmospheric performances... Gibbons is an Alkan interpreter of exceptional authority, and I cannot wait until his next release (of anything). In excellent sound, this very generous two-CD set is a TOP recommendation!

The main differences between this recording and the only other complete recording of the minor key etudes by Ronald Smith are:

1. Superior sound
2. A virtuosity that must be heard to be believed. Gibbons plays fast, Gibbons plays loud, Gibbons plays soft, Gibbons plays all the notes, and all the while Gibbons plays them musically! A truly remarkable performance of some very complex music.

But the recording by Smith has much going for it too. In an ideal world, if you're a fan of Alkan, get both recordings. I've got them both!

I've listened to these Etudes dozens of times and haven't got the slightest bit tired of them. Pretty certain that I could listen to them hundreds of times and not get tired of them. It goes without saying that the Concerto for Solo piano is the most powerful, most important of the works.

Concerto for Solo Piano is among (if not the) finest works of 19th century music that is not well-known. Not just so full of notes, but so full of meaning on all levels musical and literary. Listening to this performance I not only feel like I have a good understanding of Alkan, I feel like I understand Gibbons. What a great artistic success, hats off to you Jack Gibbons, time and time again you've been my man of the hour!

I took a bit of a gamble with this purchase, because after listening to Hamelin I was not sure that anyone else could play Alkan as well as he does. But Gibbons more than holds his own; I am very happy with him.

This 2-disc set covers about 2-1/2 hours of mostly wonderful music, and is important because Gibbons includes Studies 1,2,3 and 11 of Opus 39, which Hamelin has not covered. These remaining studies are amazing: No. 1 is called Like the Wind, and it is exactly that - a study in just how fast fingers can move on a keyboard, non-stop. This is clearly a study in the traditional sense, but it is musical nonetheless. I also like Nos 2 and 3, and No. 11, called the Overture, is terrific.

I generally like Hamelin a bit better for the Symphony (4-7) and the Concerto (8-10), with the exception of the Presto, number 7. Gibbons to me makes it sound more like the ride in hell that it is supposed to be.

What makes this set even more fun, though, are the other pieces that are included. I just love the nearly impossible Allegro Barbaro, Op 35, No. 5, which Gibbons plays brilliantly, and right after that there is a piece called, simply, "Very Lively", though it's actually moderate in tempo. This is one of the catchiest tunes I have ever heard - you can't get it out of your head once you have heard it. But wait till you hear the one called "Song of the Mad Woman by the Seashore". This has to be one of the creepiest, spookiest pieces of all time. This piece also comes after another one called "Bad Weather", which is almost as spooky. This is what I love about Alkan - his ability to tell a story, or create a vivid tone picture on the piano.

Overall this set is a very good deal for the price, and will provide a lot of enjoyment for Alkan fans.

It's a good alternative to Hamelin's recordings. With a really wilder approach!!