COMPOSERS: Alkan
LABELS: Naxos
WORKS: 12 Études (dans tous les tons majeurs), Op. 35; Scherzo diabolico, Op. 39/3; La festin d’Esope, Op. 39/12
PERFORMER: Bernard Ringeissen (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: 8.555495 Reissue (1990)
This re-release of Bernard Ringeissen’s accounts of the Op. 35 major-key studies provides a fine start to the Naxos survey of Alkan’s extraordinary piano works. With a couple of exceptions, the Op. 35 Studies tend to be more conventional creatures than their minor-key counterparts in the Op. 39 set (of which two are generously included here), but they are none the worse for that. The fearsome technical demands never find Ringeissen wanting, with sparks flying in the fifth and sixth pieces. Nevertheless, greatest reward comes in the calmer works, such as the exquisite tenth study (Chant d’amour – Chant de mort). Christopher Dingle
Alkan: 12 Études (dans tous les tons majeurs), Op. 35; Scherzo diabolico, Op. 39/3; La festin d'Esope, Op. 39/12
This re-release of Bernard Ringeissen’s accounts of the Op. 35 major-key studies provides a fine start to the Naxos survey of Alkan’s extraordinary piano works. With a couple of exceptions, the Op. 35 Studies tend to be more conventional creatures than their minor-key counterparts in the Op. 39 set (of which two are generously included here), but they are none the worse for that. The fearsome technical demands never find Ringeissen wanting, with sparks flying in the fifth and sixth pieces.
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 1:20 pm