Piano Works

Alkan (Artist), Ronald Smith (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics Imports
• ASIN: B00006YX6V
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #390,664 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. I: Vingt Ans

2. II: Trente Ans: Quasi-Faust

3. III: Quarante Ans: Un Heureux Menage

4. IV: Cinquante Ans: Promethee Enchaine

5. I: Comme Le Vent (Prestissimamente)

6. II: En Rythme Molossique (Risoluto)

7. III: Scherzo Diabolico (Prestissimo)

8. IV: Le Frestin D'Esope (Allegretto Senza Licenza Quantunque)

9. La Chanson De La Folle Au Bord De La Mer (Preludes, Op.31)

10. Allegro Barbaro (12 Etudes Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs, Op.35)

Disc: 2

1. I: Allegro Vivace

2. II: Allegramente

3. III: Scherzo-Minuetto

4. IV: Tempo Giusto

5. I: Etude Pour La Main Gauche Seule (Fantaisie)

6. II: Etude Pour La Main Droite Seule (Introduction, Variations Et Finale)

7. III: Etude Pour Les Mains Reunies (Mouvement Semblable Et Perpetuel)

8. I: Mouvement De Valse

9. II: Moderato (Quasi Minuetto)

10. III: Prestissimo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid performances !, July 27, 2004

By	Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Charels Valentin Alkan (The Berlioz of piano) has been one of the most underapreciated and even unknown composers of the XIX century . Certainly , besides his introspective character and hard temperament , he was a very meticulous composer and made of the piano his prima donna to express a big amount of piano music .
I knew about Alkan in the seventies through the Etudes op. 39 and the scherzo diabolico performed for Michael Ponti .
The Alkan sound in a first impression is extremely weird , but never lacks interest . The melodies are surrounded for mysterious efluvies and inspired moments , and many times the melody is interrupted for fortissimos who move the listener . In many aspects his tonal language demands from you all the possible atention , because it is not easy establish an inmediat rapport .
But , in the other hand there are just a few gifted keyboardist who are capable of playing so difficult score .
The list is very reduced : Raymond Lewenthal , Earl Wild , John Ogdon ,. Mark Hamelin , Ronald Smith , Michael Ponti and Bernard Rigneissen among the most remarkable .
Ronald Smith is a great virtuosi , but also a sensitive performer . He is searching the real intention behind the score and his fingers give the accurate pulse to every piece . When you play Alkan , you must draw the music , due its impresionistic and descriptive character . Due the fact Alkan was a deep thinker and passionate reader , inmersed in spiritual , religious and mythological issues , his music owns this syncretism .
Alkan has been considered as a simple composer of fireworks piano and obviously that 's a mistake . I can accept hat a part of his music can be listed under these terms but not in his majority .
Acquire this CD and make the attempt to get close to this weird music . The challenge runs for you but you will be rewarded .
Fortunately for us , Mark Hamelin one of the top pianists in the world includes Alkan ' s piano music in his personal repertoire . And that 's a good signal .