Alkan: Piano Works; Ronald Smith [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Charles Alkan (Artist), Ronald Smith (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2004)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0000CE7FF
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,384 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Toccatas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Pianist/Inspirational Composer, September 3, 2004

By	A. Twigg (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ronald Smith died on the 27 May 2004 a week before I was due to hear him perform in concert at the age of 82. Obviously I was incredibly upset by his death and not having ever heard him play - especially ALKAN.

Ronald Smith was the man who re-established Charles-Valentin Alkan as one of the greatest composers of piano music. Busoni claimed "Alkan, alongside Chopin, Liszt, Schumann and Brahms, was one of the five greatest composers for the piano since Beethoven".

Of particular interest here is Ronald Smiths recordings of the Solo Piano Concerto and Symphony for Solo Piano. These are some of the most extraordinary compositions in musical literature.

Ronald Smith's recordings are exceptional and in my mind can only be equalled technically by Marc-André Hamelin performances of Alkan. Yet with this said Ronald Smith was the only virtuoso pianist who truly understood Alkans philosophy of music - hence smith's book on Alkan - The Man The Music.

This album is highly recommended to all music and piano playing enthusiasts.
The music is innovative, passionate; but not sentimental and incredibly interesting in structure, colouring and philosophy.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Remastering!, July 14, 2005

By	Alan Beggerow (Rock Falls, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own the original LP recordings of some of these works and the CD version. In a previous review I remarked how the CD sound quality was not the best, but adequate.

This remastering brings back much of the original vitality and great sound quality that was in the LP version but lacking in the CD version. And all at a bargain price too!

All Alkan (and Ronald Smith fans),don't hesitate to get this 2CD set. To have the symphony for piano and concerto in such fine quality sound again is a real treat for the ears.

Most highly recommended!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WELL worth getting., May 18, 2006

By	panicnow - See all my reviews

This CD has what is still my favorite interpretation of Alkan's Concerto out of the three I've heard (although regrettably I haven't heard Jack Gibbons' version). Ogdon and Hamelin seem to kind of rush parts in order to impart a greater sense of technical bravura whereas Smith lets the power and majesty of the piece come through.
Also a great recording of the Alkan Symphonie. Hamelin's playing of the piece seems to have gotten all the attention but I find this one just right.
The prior two pieces would be reason enough to get any Alkan CD but this one is also loaded with a number of smaller gems, some of which it's probably going to be, what, twenty years before someone else makes a recording of any of them. The Petit Conte and Nocturne show Alkan's similarities to Chopin. The Toccatina is a delightful little piece with an awesome ending. Five great preludes, eight esquisses, etc. etc. - probably the best Alkan CD out there.