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