Alkan Edition

Description

For a long time, the improbable work of Charles Valentin Alkan remained that elusive sea serpent that virtuosos would occasionally reveal during one or two encores at concerts, opting instead for characteristic pieces like the brilliant "Chanson de la folle au bord de la mer" rather than the relentless "Etudes." The record, in the era of the microgroove, perhaps captured more of the character than the music itself, with Ronald Smith unearthing as much as he could some major cycles, but aside from a few rare albums from the United States, signed by John Ogdon or Raymond Loewenthal and doing justice with their consummate virtuosity, at least in letter if not in spirit, the mystery of Alkan remained unsolved. The arrival of Marc-André Hamelin changed the game, as he illuminated all facets of this genius of the grand romanticism with three perfect CDs (Hyperion), showcasing this magician of the keyboard. Pascal Amoyel and Stephanie McCallum also contributed to this revival, and then the younger generation got involved. It is partly this generation that we find in the illuminating set published by Brilliant Classics in an abundant box of 13 CDs, an unstoppable collection of Alkan. Alessandro Deljavan delivers the definitive version of the Grande Etudes op. 16, while Vincenzo Maltempo provides a particularly inspired interpretation of the entire album of character pieces, with his dazzling keyboard triumphing in the Grande Sonate "Les Quatre âges" as well as in the Etudes op. 39. Mark Viner nearly matches the fiery virtuosity of the Italian in the "Etudes op. 35." Alongside this youth, there are three beautiful poetic discs by Jean Martin, Esquisses, Préludes, Impromptus, and the Concertos da camera, led with great character by Giovanni Bellucci. But you will also find the organ works, chamber music scores (listen to the Cello Sonata!), and you can discover here all the faces of this singular genius, a major figure of romanticism that has been too long relegated to the cabinet of curiosities. (Discophilia - Artalinna.com) (Jean-Charles Hoffelé)