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INSANE
Marc Andre Hamelin is an insane pianist.To be able to play the entire length of the concerto as flawless as he does is almost unbelievable to me.He is so good I would be willing to bet he could roll out of bed without warming up and just knock out the Alkan Concerto without any problem.So for the performance five stars all the way.The music by Alkan is great too,but I will say to listen all the way thru opus 39 is not something I could do all the time.Number 10 certainly seems to be the highlight of opus 39 and 8 and 9 definitley have their moments.(The double notes at the end of number 8 is Sick!)But I think I like the way Trosieme recueil de chants(opus 65) is broken up into nine diffirent pieces of music anywhere from 2 minutes to 4 minutes.I am certainly not knocking the Music of the 50 minute Concerto as it is at once a beautiful,exilirating,serene,diabolical,reflective,force to be reckoned with.But I can understand why recordings of the Concerto are few and far between,and I am glad to have this flawless recording of a very underappreciated composer.Highly recommended.
Wow is all I can say.
I had roughly 900 classical cds of all the greats before I picked up this gem of a cd. I don't know why it escaped my ears but no more. This music is fast, making Chopin seem like Debussy well maybe not that fast, but it had charm also. Many catchy bars of voracious piano music, just astounding technical brilliance, I fell in love with it after a few minutes. Hamelin does an awesome job as far as I can tell, not being a musician just a lover of classical music.
It is astounding that the human brain and heart can conjour up this magnificent workmanship. Please if you own nothing of this composer buy this you won't be dissapointed, unless you prefer Debussy and nothing else. Great sound quality for you audiophiles also.
(*) Everyone: Keep a copy if everything goes wrong!
Sorry for my adding a sixth star. But what to, then? Five inflated amazon.com stars simply aren't enough for a transnational treasure like this.
To say the least, it would be somewhat foolish not to believe that no single human being has heard all live and recorded performances of every living and dead pianist. In this case, that doesn't really matter as sensible extrapolation is sufficiently second-best. In front of you is one of the best piano performances of all times and centuries--possibly THE best (only the Almighty himself would know).
The conclusion is actually not that complex to arrive at. Look at the score, listen to comments by such proven experts as Liszt and Busoni, examine the competition, and then turn on the CD player. Some hints: the score's technical difficulty surpasses virtually everything else; Liszt has often been said to probably have been the greatest ever pianist, fearing no one, but of course Alkan; the competition, consisting of no mean pianists, keeps struggling with getting through all the notes (including Smith, Ogdon and Gibbons); hence, what do you hear?
I fully do understand why people throw away words like 'machine' or 'inhuman' trying to understand what they hear. As far as I know, Mr Hamelin is indeed very much a human being (have personally been blessed with several opportunities to verify that statement, first-hand); the difference is just that his pianistic abilities so apparently surpass everyone else's that things get somewhat awkward--or perhaps rather turned entirely upside down. Yes, Hamelin plays as good live as on record.
Is Alkan's Solo Concerto that greatest piano work ever written? No, but considering the perverse neglect it's been exposed to ever since composed, one might say it's indeed the greatest relative to its recognition. But even the sun has its spots, and so has the Concerto. Personally, I would have tried to substitute some of the first movement's innumerable broken right-hand octaves--but, on the other hand, admittedly I'm not a particularly great composer.
As to the competition, actually there is some--not from Smith, Ogdon or Gibbons, but from Hamelin himself; claims on Gibbons being the benchmark are best just ignored. How would I know? I can actually confess to having learnt loving this Concerto through Gibbon's recording (Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39--don't ask how many times I've played it, only my CD player would know). However, since the arrival of Hamelin's first rendition (Music & Arts), when listening to Gibbons, I only end up paying attention to all those instances where the score extends beyond the reach of all 'human', or better normally-skilled, pianists. With Hamelin's remake out, the only reason for still allowing Gibbons shelf space would be minor-key Etudes Nos 1-3 and 11, not yet recorded by Hamelin.
To conclude, my previous desert island disc (Charles-Valentin Alkan: Concerto For Solo Piano) thus has now been replaced--which is exactly what I feared in my previous review after having learnt of the pending remake. Why? Hexameron very accurately points out that the remake shows 'greater vision', with the first movement in particular being 'more dynamically contrasting and passionate'. However, he is wrong when it comes to tempo, energy and excitement, where the first rendition still is unsurpassed, if by a tiny margin. The differences between the two versions are in the details rather in overall conception, in contrast to the entirely 'revamped [...] delivery' being suggested in Hexameron's review. What tips the scales for me is the greater relaxed, sophisticated beauty of the remake, realised through a vastly superior recorded sound--in fact one of Hyperion's better (Potton Hall), not far from the reference reproduction of Demidenko's definitive Liszt Sonata (Snape Maltings--Nikolai Demidenko Plays Liszt). I don't mean to diminish the bonus value of the addition of Troisieme recueil de chants to the catalogue, exceedingly charming as they are--they just play in an altogether division.
If everything goes wrong, this is the one disc worth preserving to demonstrate to other civilisations, species, or whatever they may be, what mankind referred to as piano playing.
Masterful rendering of a masterpiece by a master composer
Charles-Valentin Alkan, although essentially a recluse, was remarkably kind. Despite his desire to remain seperated from society, people who encountered him claimed that he was not only polite, but friendly. Though religiously anti-social, characterized by one picture of him holding an umbrella and facing away from the camera (1 of only 2 known photographs of the virtuoso, a portrait rounds out the 3 known images of the mysterious wonder), Alkan had a manner that apparently won over the people with whom he spoke. Alkan's life is mostly a mystery; and it was such even when he was alive due to his isolation. According to the liner notes, an obituary in 'Le Menestrel' stated that "Charles-Valentin Alkan has just died. It was necessary for him to die in order to suspect his existence;" a bit cold, perhaps, but oddly telling of a man who had the abilities to be at the center of society's greatest circles but chose to remain alone. The article went on to state that Alkan was "an artist infinitely greater than thousands of his more celebrated and praised contemporaries". I would go so far as to say that he was infinitely more talented than many "greats" who came before him.
Even the manner of his death was bizarre; he was crushed as he reached for a book and the bookcase fell over on him; a strange, and sad, end to a strange life. But what he left behind, his compositions, speak volumes about the genius that he was.
Surprisingly, Alkan's first instrument was not the piano, his public debut, at age 7, a prodigious performance on the violin. His debut on piano came five years later at the age of 12 when he performed several of his own compositions. He attended and excelled in his studies at the Conservatoire (Paris) and became a favorite of his teacher, Joseph Zimmerman, eventual head of the piano department. Alkan's failure to be appointed as Zimmerman's replacement may lend to the public shunning that became a general life-long decision to live as a bit of a hermit; albeit a talented hermit.
His music, technically some of the most difficult piano work ever composed (so I understand), is strikingly different than the man. Brash, loud, and amazingly intense, his works are a wonder to this untrained ear (I don't play piano, but I can hear the complexity). His contemporaries lauded him as a wonder; Liszt stated that Alkan's technique was the greatest he had ever known. Alkan was described as the Berlioz of the piano. Alkan's etudes are considered the most significant after Chopin and Liszt, perhaps only less significant because he has so tragically fallen out of public view in to a sad and unfortunate obscurity that is now finally being broken by virtuoso pianists who are willing and able to record the complex pieces composed by one of history's greatest composer/pianists.
Performed masterfully by Hamelin is a stunning and exhausting version of Alkan's 'Concerto for Solo Piano', 3 movements from Alkan's Op. 39 which consists of 12 etudes, 4 of which were titled 'Symphony for Solo Piano'. Alkan apparently thought somewhat outside the box (if you'll excuse the cliche). These 3 movements, Allegro assai, Adagio, and Allegretto, are a wonder. The fact that only 2 hands are making this monstrous, thunderous jubilee of sound is amazing. The stamina required to perform such a piece, not even considering the complexity of the piece, is astounding. I can feel Hamelin's exhaustion grow as he performs these 3 astonishing movements.
Also included on the disc is Alkan's 3rd Book of Chants; again, outside the box. These consist of 6 pieces which are a showcase, once again, for virtuoso performance, but the pieces are somehow softer, more personal. They are warm and endearing; they draw you in and make you feel the emotion of the piece. It is said that Alkan's inspiration for this composition was Mendelssohn's 'Songs without Words'. I Vivante is lovely, soft and melodic. II Prestissimo is titled 'Esprits follets' ('Goblins') and is slightly more intense, active, yet still softer than the intensity of the 'Concerto'. III Canon: Assez vivement is said to be a lullaby; it is quite soothing, yet still complex and piercing. IV Tempo giusto is a polonaise, a dance, and therefore upbeat and powerful; rising in emotion and fury. V Vivacissimo: Horace et Lydie is, from what I understand, based upon one of Horace's Odes in which a dialogue has 2 conversing parties (Horace and Lydie) that must respond in the same number of verses. It is a mildly quick piece that is dark and light, deep and high, remarkably uplifting while remaining a bit 'uncomfortable'. The piece is a marvel. VI Barcarolle: Assez lentement is, much in the vein of the inspiration, Mendelssohn, a rolling, lavish and flavorsome piece that is slow and captivating. It is a beautiful piece that slowly sings the soft sea rhythms evoked by a barcarolle. The final piece is probably one of Alkan's more popular, if any of his pieces could be considered such.
Hamelin has proven that his virtuosity is unquestionable, if it ever was, in this eloquent and enveloping performance. His ability to handle the intensity of one movement and the restraint of the next is amazing. I can only imagine how difficult this must have been to perform; and yet Mr. Hamelin does so flawlessly. The recording is perfect. The sound is perfect. The performance is perfect.
This disc is priced slightly higher than most, but trust me when I tell you that it is worth the few extra dollars. The ability to transcend time and hear, perhaps, what dear Charles-Valentin Alkan did when he performed over 100 years ago, is worth the expense.
You must own this CD!
Recommended by my friend Amy; thank you! Her review above is excellent!
Alkan's Concerto and Other Works for the Piano
He was born Charles Valentin Morhange, but changed it to Alkan which was his father's first name, was destined for great things. Alkan was a child prodigy and entered the Paris Conservatoire at six, and his Op. 1 was written when he was just 14. As a young man the celebrated Alkan was popular in Paris's salon where he played next to the other great pianists of his day Liszt and Chopin, but Alkan withdrew from public performance in 1849. Alkan was certainly one of the great virtuoso pianist composers and his keyboard works are without question among the most difficult ever written, even Liszt admitted this. But performances of Alkan's repertoire has literally been none existent until fairly recently, when some of the most accomplished pianists, Hamelin among them brought the music back into the public eye and slowly people are starting to get more interest in Alkan's music again. This new disc has received many awards and it's not difficult to see or more accurately, hear why. This is amazingly complex music and few pianists could ever hope to tackle it with any success. It's a measure of Hamelin's technical and interpretive skills that he seems to be able to play the 49 minute Concerto with ease. In the first movement of the Concerto Studies 8-10 of the Douze etudes Hamelin seamlessly plays passages of intensity to moments of quiet lyricism in a way that is simply astonishing. The Adagio finds Alkan in one of those moments, resting after the rigorous demands of the Allegro. Hamelin's playing is as introspective as the music will allow, with occasional flashes of bravura writing. He judges the contrasting moods superbly, never allowing the big tunes to dominate or the quieter passages to fade in the background. Hamelin seems acutely aware of the music's overall shape and competing inner voices, revealing this beautiful music. The final movement is very unique in tempo and harmonics, but Hamelin is certainly up to its manic moments. He manages to pull off the huge finale with great skill and good taste. If after listening to the Concerto you are gasping in disbelief the other pieces should calm things down a bit. Alkan wrote four volumes of chants using Mendelssohn's Songs without words as his inspiration. Starting with Vivante it's clear we are in a different, more intimate time in Alkan's life when he wrote these short pieces. My favorite of the miniatures is the Barcarolle which has a gentle charm, dreamy yet without ever losing that all important sense of focus and clarity. With performing any work by Alkan that is a remarkable achievement. Sadly, Alkan's music is not very well known or performed, but if you find yourself wanting to listen to real virtuostic playing and some very unique music I think you will enjoy this cd very much.
