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Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888) - Concerto for solo piano (2007, Hyperion)

Marc-Andre Hamelin


Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)

Concerto for solo piano Op.39 Nos 8-10

from Dauze eteudes dans tous les tons mineurs

I. Allegro assai
II. Adagio
III. Allegretto alla barbaresca

Troisième recueil de chants Op.65
Vivante
Esprits follets: Prestissimo
Canon: Assez vivement
Tempo giusto
Horace et Lydie: Vivacissimo
arcarolle: Assez lentement

Marc-Andre Hamelin piano

Marc-André Hamelin said of Alkan's music:

"The aspect of Alkan that is most apparent when people who don't know him listen to him for the first time is that his music is

difficult to play... But in a way, I wish that it did not take a formidable technique to play... But the great musical worth of

Alkan's music makes it worthwhile to master those difficulties, even though it would take a lot of time."


Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888) was a French composer and one of the greatest virtuoso pianists of his day. His attachment to his Jewish origins is displayed both in his life and his work.He entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of six, earning many awards, and as an adult became a famous virtuoso and teacher. Although early in his life he was socially active and good friends with prominent musicians and artists including Eugène Delacroix, Franz Liszt and Frédéric Chopin, he gradually withdrew from the concert platform after 1848, and he lived a reclusive life in Paris until his death.

샤를발랑탱 알캉(1813-1888) 프랑스의 피아니스트 겸 작곡가.
프랑스 파리에서 태어났으며 본명은 샤를 발랑탱 모랑주 (Charles-Valentin Morhange) 이다. 12세에 데뷔한 뒤 파리음악원 피아노 부분 1위에 오르고, 1834년 로마대상을 차지했다. 1838년에는 가까운 친구인 F.쇼팽과 함께 연주회를 가져 호평을 받았으나 그후 별 이유 없이 6년 동안 연주회를 갖지 않았으며, 그 뒤에도 2년 동안 연주를 재개했다가 다시 28년 동안 연주회장에 나타나지 않다가 60세가 지나서야 다시 연주를 시작하기도 했다.

그의 피아노 솜씨는 쇼팽이나 F.리스트와에 비견될 정도였으며, 말년에는 오르간 음악을 피아노로 연주할 수 있도록 피아노에 부착된 페달 보드 기법을 연구하는 데 사로잡혔다. 이 페달 피아노 기법을 연구하면서 여러 작품을 썼다. 특히 '에튀드 Etude Op.39 No.12', '스케르쪼 Scherzo Diabolique Op.39', '알레그로 바르바로 Allegro Barbaro Op.25'등 그가 작곡한 피아노곡은 연주하는 데 고도의 숙련된 기법이 필요하기 때문에 대중 앞에서 연주하려고 하는 연주자가 거의 없을 정도이다.

주요수상 로마대상 (1834)
주요작품 에튀드, 스케르쪼, 알레그로 바르바로

Selected recordings
This list comprises a selection of some significant premiere and other recordings by musicians who have become closely associated with Alkan's works. A comprehensive discography is available at the Alkan Society website.

· Études dans tous les tons mineurs op.39 - played by Ronald Smith (piano). Recorded 1977. EMI, SLS 5100 [3 LPs] (1978),

partly reissued EMI Gemini, 585 4842 (2003)

· Concerto op.39, nos.8-10 - played by John Ogdon (piano). Recorded 1969. RCA, LSC-3192 [LP] (1972). Great British Pianists, 4569132 (1999)

· Le festin d'Esope (op.39 no.12) and other works - played by Raymond Lewenthal. Recorded 1966. RCA LM 2815 [LP mono],

LSC-2815 [LP stereo]: BMG High Performance Series 633310 (1999)

· Grande sonate op.33 - played by Marc-André Hamelin (piano). Recorded 1994. Hyperion, CDA669764 (1995)

· 11 Pièces dans le style religieux, et un transcription du Messie de Hændel op.72 - played by Kevin Bowyer (organ). Recorded 2005.

Toccata TOCC 0031 (2007)

· Sonate de concert op. 47 for cello and piano - played by Steven Osborne (piano) and Alban Gebhart (cello). Recorded 2008.

Hyperion CDA67624 (2008)

· Piano Trio op.30 - played by Trio Alkan. Recorded 1992. Naxos, 8555352 (2001)

Charles-Valentin Alkan - Concerto for solo piano (2007, hyperion)

Release date: September 2007

Marc-Andre Hamelin piano

cover explanations
The Kiss of the Vampire (1916) by Boleslas Biegas (1877-1954)
Collection privée, Paris / Bridgeman Art Library, London
CDA67569