ALKAN: Piano Concerto, Op. 39, Concerto da Camera, Nos. 1-3

Feofanov, Dmitry, Razumovsky Symphony Orchestra, Stankovsky, Robert

8.553702

The most substantial work is the 'Concerto'. It was originally written for solo piano, and is heard here in a version for piano and orchestra. Originally it was part of 20 Studies for Solo Piano, an extraordinary work written in minor keys. Two extensive sections Alkan described as 'Concerto' and 'Symphony', the 'Concerto' being in three linked sections. The orchestral part was added by Karl Klindworth, a prominent conductor in Berlin, and Wagner's most admired arranger of his orchestral scores for solo piano. The Concerto in its final revision being first performed in 1902. It should be pointed out that while Alkan saw and obviously approved Klindworth's work, his changes were so dramatic that he greatly changed the original piano composition.

The chamber concertos for piano and orchestra come from his younger years, the second of which he transcribed for solo piano. The first dated 1831, in three linked sections, lasts for less than 15 minutes. The Second was composed two years later, again in three linked sections, but this time lasting only half the length of the First! The Third Concerto heard on this disc is, in fact, a reconstruction by Hugh Macdonald of an Andante which lasts for little over 5 minutes.

CD x 1

Naxos

2/2/98

730099470223