Customer Reviews

The Romantic Piano Concerto Vol. 7- Henselt: Piano Concerto op. 16; Alkan: Concerto da Camera Op 10/1

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I just read a comment on one of my favourite pianoconcerto's, the one from Henselt. The writer referred to it as "a fun concerto with no profundity". I dont agree to that! I love its warm, dark, romantic flows of music. Its an exeptinal Romantic concerto, and if you happen to know more other "unknown concerto's" from the Romantic age, you have to agree that this is not a fun concerto, but a serious outburst of feelings. I know three performances: by Ponti, Lewenthal, and the last by Hamelin, which is a very beautifull one. I still curse the day that I did nit notice an opportuntity to hear the cocerto in reality by Ponti, in The Hague, Holland (only ten minutes by train from the place where I lived then). The critic the day after wrote about "a shamefull imitation of Chopin", something I hope to learn more about one day, because I do not get the point of what he meaned by that. Because it is an unique, beatifull concerto, and it should be performed much more, also in the concert-hall of today. But where are the new adventurous pianists who dare to do this?

This disc is among the finest, if not the finest, of Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series. (Most) all credit, of course, is due to the pianist, Marc Andre Hamelin, who, in his phenomenal technical abilities and superb musicianship, delivers astonishingly dexterous, breathtaking, highly persuasive, commited performances of each of these compositions staggeringly unforgiving and formidable difficulties, written to be so well concealed that they become almost transparent to the ear... A thoroughly enjoyable disc!

This is music which has slipped through the cracks! The Henselt used to be in many pianist's repertoires but not too many pianists were up to its heavy demands! Hamelin is well equipped to handle them, though. This is just a fun concerto, with no attempt at profundity. The difficulties are not evident to the listener. The score is more telling, but actually trying to play this concerto explains why the work is so hard to play. The Alkan pieces have not been familiar because they are so small-and now is a good time for them to come back, for the 2nd Concerto in C-Sharp Minor is a beauty and it only lasts 7 minutes! Sound is a little one-dimensional, but warm. The performances as always are excellent!

Henselt's Piano Concerto Op.16 is one of the most beautiful that I ever heard. The romantic melody makes me recall the style of a concerto composed by Chopin, specially the slow second movement. Despite the coincidence, this piece is quite original in elements and musical structures. The solist Marc-André Hamelin gives us a brilliant performance of what a real romantic concerto is. Also I'd like to metion the two concertos da camera by Alkan. So, I strongly recommend this CD.

First of all, if you like piano concertos by chopin, schumann, brahms etc. don't miss this one. You'll be on your toes the whole time (not a dull moment)

Secondly, i read an above review from a person who did not like this recording. And usually I'd say - "in the eye of the beholder" but i cannot do that right now.
I've heard many other recordings of this concerto. And non came close to this one. This one is simply FIREY!!!!!
You will not regret this CD.
And if you have the chance, try rudiger steinfatt recordings of Henselt's impromptus and you'll never listen to chopin again!
I recorded some henselt for anyone who wants to get a "taste"
...
bye

Generally, I find Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concertos series one of the most revelatory and entertaining in the catalog. But I'm afraid I can't warm to this release. I can't fault Hamelin's playing; he's an expert in such out-of-the-way repertoire, and along with his sympathy for obscure Romantic piano literature goes a prodigious virtuosity that's heard to advantage especially in the Henselt.

While the recorded sound is somewhat dim--highly unusual for Hyperion, which usually produces crystal-clear though resonant sound characteristic of a good concert hall--the main problem here is the music. I'd heard the Henselt long ago and was not impressed then, though I thought the recording and performance might have been at fault. But the music IS undistinguished--derivative of an unhappy mix of composers (Field, Chopin, and Schumann, I think) and without memorable melodies or a strong emotional profile. The Alkan is somewhat more interesting, especially in terms of the highly individiualistic keyboard writing, but compositionally, the pieces are scrappy, it seems to me.

Given the lack of enjoyment I had, two stars is in order, though for Hamelin's playing I've grudgingly given this CD three stars. I'd pass on it if I were you.