Search - Charles-Valentin Alkan, Laurent Martin :: Esquisses Op 63

Amazing variety, spanning the spectrum of human emotions.

seth pratt | Northern Ireland | 01/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was very pleased with this recording. Although I am certainly not used to listening to pieces of music less than three minutes long (I tend to go for longer, more ambitious works), it is very refreshing to hear miniatures like these being performed by such a pianist as Laurent Martin. The range of moods and colours which Alkan manages to portray here is amazing; from the clumsy footsteps of the man in boots ("L'homme aux sabots") to the impressionistic images created in "Les Soupirs" (prophetic of Debussy - who studied Alkan's works while at the Paris Conservatoire). From the cantankerous, darkly petulant nature of "Increpatio", to the colourful yet spiky devilry of the tone clusters in "Les Diablotins". Typically for Alkan, he finishes off the work as a whole with a hymn of praise to God, "Laus Deo". This deeply religious man shows conclusive evidence here of dedication to one's art, composing his feelings onto manuscript for our historical and musical benefit.
The performance is great, the sound exemplary, the price better than anywhere else, three cheers for Naxos who pull off another Alkan treat. No Alkanholic or even pianophile should be without it."

Tour de Force

Avid Reader | Franklin, Tn | 04/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording calmed my worries about what one could expect from 49 individual pieces. It was simply superb, stretching over a wide range of emotions and technical hurdles. It is, though, a CD that requires repeated listenings in order to catch all the nuances and the enormous detail encapsulated in track. The pieces are more like musical vignettes, superb short musical tales told superbly and deeply.



Perhaps it is the oddness of the opus that prevents frequent performances. (A careful selection would seem an almost perfect entry for the Van Cliburn competition.) Many are over almost before they get started prompting my entreaty to listen, listen and listen again."

Even Performances; Good Sound

Aronne | 04/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The challenge facing Laurent Martin in making 49 diverse pieces interesting and musical is immense. But I dare say he overcomes it to a great extent.



The Esquisses ("Sketches" in English) cover a wide variety of moods and colors. Alkan excelled himself here, penning vignettes of great variety and even charm. From haunting (No. 4 Les cloches & No. 26 Petit air) to exciting (No. 15 Tutti de Concerto dans le genre ancien & No. 27 Rigaudon) to charmingly grotesque (No. 23 L'Homme aux sabots & No. 45 Les diablotins), these pieces are sure to please anyone who has found pleasure in Alkan's unique piano idiom.



The performance, while not possessing the transcendental feel of Hamlin or Gibbon's recordings, is certainly more than adequate. Martin's technique is unfailing, his musicality almost equally so. This CD, first released on the Marco Polo label, has better sound than most Marco Polo releases from the late 80s and early 90s (this CD was recorded in December 1990), but still lacks something. Sometimes the piano sound is slightly brash, but the ear adjusts: I cannot call the recording quality anything less than good.



The well-written notes by the ubiquitous Keith Anderson mentions each of the pieces at least once.



Overall, this is an invaluable release of a fascinating work by a much neglected romantic period composer. Charles-Valentin Alkan truly was something else. These 49 pieces demonstrate that well.



Total Timing: 74'29""