Charles Alkan (1813-1888): Esquisses op.63

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Detailed Information

  • Artist: Steven Osborne, Klavier
  • Label: Hyperion , DDD, 02
  • Order number: 7469044
  • Release date: 14.4.2003

48 Esquisses op. 63

  1. 1 La vision (1. Buch) Start
  2. 2 Le staccatissimo Start
  3. 3 Le legatissimo Start
  4. 4 Les cloches Start
  5. 5 Les initiés Start
  6. 6 Fuguette Start
  7. 7 Le frisson Start
  8. 8 Pseudo-Naïveté Start
  9. 9 Confidence Start
  10. 10 Increpatio Start
  11. 11 Les soupirs Start
  12. 12 Barcarollette Start
  13. 13 Ressouvenir (2. Buch) Start
  14. 14 Duettino Start
  15. 15 Tutti de Concert dans le genre ancien Start
  16. 16 Fantaisie Start
  17. 17 Petit prélude à 3 Start
  18. 18 Liedchen Start
  19. 19 Grâces Start
  20. 20 Petite marche villageoise Start
  21. 21 Morituri te salutant Start
  22. 22 Innocenzia Start
  23. 23 L'homme aux sabots Start
  24. 24 Contredanse Start
  25. 25 La Poursuite (3. Buch) Start
  26. 26 Petit air Start
  27. 27 Rigaudon Start
  28. 28 Inflexibilité Start
  29. 29 Délire Start
  30. 30 Petit air dolent Start
  31. 31 Début de quatuor Start
  32. 32 Minuettino Start
  33. 33 Fais dodo
  34. 34 Odi profanum vulgus et arceo
  35. 35 Musique militaire
  36. 36 Toccatina
  37. 37 Scherzettino (4. Buch)
  38. 38 Les bons souhaits
  39. 39 Héraclite et Démocrite
  40. 40 Attendez-moi sous l'orme
  41. 41 Les enharmoniques
  42. 42 Petit air à 5 voix
  43. 43 Notturino - Innamorato
  44. 44 Transports
  45. 45 Les Diaboltins
  46. 46 Le premier billet doux
  47. 47 Scherzetto
  48. 48 En Songe
  1. 49 Laus Deo

Product Information

Product-Information:


The renaissance of interest in the reclusive and eccentric 19th-century French composer Alkan has been one of the more interesting developments of the last part of the 20th century but it has usually been his massive and virtuoso works (the symphony and concerto for solo piano for example) which have made the biggest impression. Throughout his life though Alkan was also a miniaturist, as 25 Preludes and six books of Chants show, and this interest culminated in undoubtedly the greatest of these cycles, the Esquisses (sketches) here recorded. This set of 48 pieces plus a final Laus Deo runs through all 24 keys twice with the Laus Deo returning the double cycle to C major. A huge range of mood and colour is represented from simple folk song to etude, not forgetting the bizarre, as can be seen in the tone clusters of Les Diablotins or the schizophrenic Héraclite et Démocrite.

This cycle has only been recorded complete once before. With Steven Osborne applying his colour, virtuosity and interpretive insight we are confident we have produced a recording that will permanently raise the stature of these pieces in the musical world and add a significant milestone in the Alkan discography.

Rezensionen


'This music needs a performer full of freedom, imagination and with great fingers, all of which describes Osborne … I knew that Osborne’s latest offering would be outstanding' (Pianist)

'Osborne’s playing is breathtaking' (Classic FM Magazine)

'These miniatures call for a pianist of great sensitivity, character and receptiveness to the music’s diverse, perfectly crystallised moods … Osborne is just the man … This is a revelatory disc, and one to cherish' (Daily Telegraph)

'A major keyboard musician … the music rather than his ego comes first' (The Times)

Press comments

F. Siebert in FonoForum 9 / 03: "Steven Osborne ist ein nahezu idealer Interpret von Alkans Musik, der neben der technischen Brillanz vor allem beim lyrischen Modellieren über ein schönes Legato und eine reiche Farbpalette ver- fügt."

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