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Stephanie
McCallum - Alkan: Douze Études dans les tons mineurs, Opus 39
[complete]
RECORDING OF THE
MONTH (MARCH 2007) AT MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL: "a superlative set of
the complete opus 39, unsurpassed pianism and enthusiasm", William
Kreindler)
Click here to purchase this disk from Buywell.com.
Click "Quick Search" and type "Stephanie McCallum".
Click here to purchase this
disc from www.mtd.co.uk |
CHARLES- VALENTIN ALKAN
(1813-1888)
Twelve etudes in the minor keys, Op. 39
CD1
I. Comme le vent
II. En rythme molossique
III.Scherzo diabolico
Symphonie for Piano Solo
IV. Allegro
V. Marche Funèbre
VI. Menuet
VII. Finale
CD2
Concerto for Piano Solo
VIII. Allegro assai
IX. Adagio
X. Allegro alla barbaresca
XI. Ouverture
XII. Le Festin d'Esope |
In his notes for this
disc, distinguished scholar and Alkan expert, Hugh Macdonald,
describes Alkan's Studies in the Minor Keys as "the Alps and
Himalayas of pianism, the one superimposed on the other...There can
hardly be dispute, however, over the greatness of these Douze
études dans les tons mineurs and their prodigious achievement.
Defying normal pianistic moderation and rarely played, they are
like a huge submerged ship whose immensity can only be grasped when
from time to time the waters recede. This recording gives us a
splendidly clear and thrilling picture of the whole vessel."
The set of studies includes a four-movement Symphonie for piano
solo and a massive three-movement Concerto for Piano Solo, the
thirty-minute first movement of which is one of the most demanding
and impressive piano works of the nineteenth century. More like a
conventional study is the breathlessly fast, Comme le vent,
while the final study, the darkly witty and demonically difficult
set of variations, Le Festin d'Esope has come to be one of
Alkan's most popular works. |
Reviews:
CD:
Recording of the Month. Musicweb
International. March 2007.
"First, we need to get
the ‘Guinness Book of World Records” aspect out of the way. With
this recording Stephanie McCallum becomes the first person in the
world to record the complete Alkan Études Opp. 35 and 39, having
recorded the Op. 35 major-key études in 1995. Secondly, it must be
said that all the descriptors usually applied to Alkan’s music:
virtuosic, formidable, super-human - could as easily be applied to
Ms. McCallum’s performances on these discs. Thirdly, like Liszt’s
Transcendental Études, the Alkan études can be listened to in part,
but yield new emotional and structural values when listened to as a
whole.
William Kreindler.
(click
here for
full review).
‘Stephanie McCallum has
once again proved herself as a pianist whose musical versatility
and fearless virtuosity is matched only by her steely-fingered,
powerful technique…This is coruscating pianism…There is never a
sense of virtuosity for its own sake with McCallum’s playing. Her
technique matches that required to make the music work which is in
itself a phenomenal undertaking. The hurdles to be overcome and the
risks to be taken are so immense that I suspect that is why many
pianists don’t even attempt this repertoire.
This is a CD that no
lover of piano music should ever be without.’ – Mike Smith.
2MBS fineMUSIC. Jan.2006.
‘A tour de force’ –
David Hood, Libretto. Dec’06-Jan’07 issue.
‘’…elle laisse toujours
la musique s’épanouir, chanter, elle possède un talent étonnant
pour relever un détail, un contrechant, sans jamais souffrir la
ligne générale. Ce qui fait que même les pièces qui tournent plus
facilement à l’exploit vide, telles Comme le Vent ou
l’Ouverture, sont ici gorgées de musique…Stephanie sait
magistralement renouveler l’approche de cette fresque inégalée, ce
qui prouve assez sa richesse – qui en doute encore? – et l’immense
talent de l’interprète.” – Francois Luguenot. Bulletin de
la Societe Alkan No.68 July 2006. |
