CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN (1813-1888)

 

Hamelin Plays Alkan

 

Marc-André Hamelin - piano

 

GRANDE SONATA 'LES QUATRE AGES' op 33

20 ans. Tres vite

30 ans, Quasi-Faust. Assez vite

40 ans, un menage heureux. Lentement

50 ans, Promethee enchaine. Extremement lent

 

SONATINE op 61

Allegro vivace

Allegramente

Scherzo-Minuet

Tempo giusto - Coda

 

BARCAROLLE op 65 no 6

 

LE FESTIN D'ESOPE op 39 no 12

 

 

'Breathtaking virtuosity, outshining all rivals' (The Guardian)

 

'The whole disc is an outstanding achievement - There's no better introduction in the current catalogue to this intriguing, paradoxical composer' (The Independent)

 

'Sa virtuosité hors du commun, symbolisée par une fluidité et un contrôle de la dynamique tout simplement sidérants' (Répertoire, France)

 

'Without a shadow of a doubt the finest Alkan recording ever made' (Soundscapes, Australia)

 

'Another Hyperion/Hamelin must' (Gramophone)

 

'The virtuosity is mind-boggling' (BBC Music Magazine)

 

'Un virtuoso sbalorditivo ... destinato a fare la gioia di chi cerca il virtuosismo puro (qui elevato a livelli stratosferici) e l'originalità del programma' (Musica, Italy)

 

'Breathtaking' (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

 

'Alkan est servi par un pianiste à la technique stupéfiante' (Répertoire, France)

 

'One of the phenomenal pianists of the century ... superhuman ... staggering virtuosity' (American Record Guide)

 

'Phenomenal. Breathtaking. Staggering' (Fanfare, USA)

 

Hyperion CDA66794