Alkan: Symphony For Solo Piano

Opis

Alkan: Symphony for Solo PianoOpis:Anyone who regards Charles-Valentin Alkan as a pathetic joke--reputedly killed when his book case fell on him--should listen to Marc-André Hamelin's recording of Symphony for Solo Piano and think again. Scholarly, obsessed with his Jewish scriptures, and so reclusive that he would disappear from view for years at a time, Alkan was also a virtuoso pianist in the Lisztean mould. Liszt himself thought highly of him, which makes interesting sense of the fact that some of the pieces on this disc seem to adumbrate Liszt's own works. Others are clearly influenced by Chopin, whom Alkan inordinately admired. Schumann, on the other hand, was contemptuous of the Souvenirs which close this collection, and one can easily see why: the first is lachrymose mood-music, the second ("Le vent") a rather obvious nature-picture depending on chromatic runs, while the third cries out for Schumann's fancy to set it free. But the Symphony itself is noble, and the religious works that follow are imbued with palpable exaltation: Alkan translated the Bible, then destroyed his translation, but remained convinced that the whole book should be set to music. Hamelin's virtuosity is at its peak throughout. --Michael Church Product Description Marc-Andre Hamelin's first solo Alkan recording (CDA66794) met with the most superlative critical reception imaginable (culminating in Fanfare magazine's "one of the best releases of anything to have been made, a classic of the recorded era"). This follow-up proves to be no less spectacular. The disc is framed by two of the 'monster' works for which Alkan is notorious. The four movements of the Symphony for solo piano are taken from his magnum opus, the 12 Studies in the minor keys Op 39. This piece has become one of Alkan's best known but never has its finale (once described as a 'ride in hell') been so spectacularly thrown off. The Trois Morceaux dans le genre pathetique are the earliest pieces in which Alkan's true personal style became apparent. These are three massive studies each with programmatic titles and an atmosphere of Gothic horror that requires a supreme virtuoso to tackle their outlandish technical demands. This is their first recording. The recital is completed by three pieces of rather religious inspiration. While their scale and technical demands are those of a more conventional composer, their quirky sound-world and often sardonic mood confirm the composer as our reclusive Frenchman. Review GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE 'Hamelin's playing is not only mind-blowingly virtuosic but powerfully ardent and touchingly sensitive to boot. Absolutely not to be missed!' (www.bn.com 'This quite exceptional recording confirms Marc-André Hamelin as the greatest living exponent of Alkan's music ... spontaneous, inspirational playing in which the architecture of each work, phrasing, astonishing accuracy and articulation, and the full use of the tonal resources of the instrument combine to illuminate these extravagant scores as never before' (International Record Review) 'Hamelin has no equal as an interpreter of Alkan; he inhabits the overheated world of this strange proto-Lisztian figure with a completeness that combines a total mastery of its fearsome technical challenges with an innate understanding of its sometimes elusive emotional content' (The Guardian) 'Marc-André Hamelin puts us further in his debt with another superbly played disc of Alkan ... [the Symphony s] big-boned, exorbitantly taxing writing draws appropriately stunning pianism from Hamelin' (BBC Music Magazine) 'Ear-boggling ... Another self-recommending discographic coup. What next? I'm all ears' --Fanfare, USAAutor:Marc-Andre HamelinNośnik:Audio CDPłyt:Język: English: Published; English: Original Language; EnglishData wydania: 2025-05-31Waga: 0.27 gramWysokość: 0.5 cmSzerokość: 5 cmDługość: 5.5 cmNew Store StockUWAGA: Kupując produkt na tej aukcji zgadzasz się na wydłużony termin realizacji wysyłki (10-14 dni roboczych). Podany towar pochodzi z zagranicznego magazynu, stąd wydłużony czas realizacji który podany jest obok.