Alkan: 3 Grande Etudes Op. 76, Sonatine, 2 Petites Pieces Op. 60

The year 2013 marks the Bicentenary of two musical giants, Verdi and Wagner, and it is easy to overlook the bicentenary of another giant, Charles-Henri Alkan, creator of piano worksof colossal proportions and difficulty. Alkan might have preferred his relative obscurity, as he spent a large part of his life in disappointed seclusion, yet the oeuvre he left us is one of great originality and power, at times sublime, bizarre, tender and passionate. One of the best pianists of his time (even Liszt was afraid to play in his company), his piano writing is of unprecedented difficulty, yet the virtuosity is never for its own sake, but always serves a musical and emotional purpose. This CD contains the Sonatine, a deceptively simple title for a piece at times demonic and frightening, the 3 grandes etudes, one for the left hand, one for the right hand and one for two hands unisono (a toccata like whirlwind of devilish difficulty) and two romantic genre pieces, deux petites pieces. Alessandro Deljavan, prize winner of important international competitions (his appearance at the Van Cliburn competition made a deep impression) making his CD debut on Piano Classics, is the perfect guide to the fascinating world of Alkan.

This CD contains the Sonatine, a deceptively simple title for a piece at times demonic and frightening, the 3 grandes etudes, one for the left hand, one for the right hand and one for two hands unisono (a toccata like whirlwind of devilish difficulty) and two romantic genre pieces, deux petites pieces.