Search - Charles-Valentin Alkan, Adolf Henselt, Martyn Brabbins :: Henselt: Piano Concerto, Op. 16; Variations de Concert, Op. 11; Alkan: Concerto da Camera, Op. 10/1; Concerto da Came

A Disappointment in a Series That Mostly Thrills

C. Luciano Jr. | 11/14/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Generally, I find Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concertos series one of the most revelatory and entertaining in the catalog. But I'm afraid I can't warm to this release. I can't fault Hamelin's playing; he's an expert in such out-of-the-way repertoire, and along with his sympathy for obscure Romantic piano literature goes a prodigious virtuosity that's heard to advantage especially in the Henselt.



While the recorded sound is somewhat dim--highly unusual for Hyperion, which usually produces crystal-clear though resonant sound characteristic of a good concert hall--the main problem here is the music. I'd heard the Henselt long ago and was not impressed then, though I thought the recording and performance might have been at fault. But the music IS undistinguished--derivative of an unhappy mix of composers (Field, Chopin, and Schumann, I think) and without memorable melodies or a strong emotional profile. The Alkan is somewhat more interesting, especially in terms of the highly individiualistic keyboard writing, but compositionally, the pieces are scrappy, it seems to me.



Given the lack of enjoyment I had, two stars is in order, though for Hamelin's playing I've grudgingly given this CD three stars. I'd pass on it if I were you."

A "fun concerto"!

Lex Dirkse | Zwolle, Holland | 04/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just read a comment on one of my favourite pianoconcerto's, the one from Henselt. The writer referred to it as "a fun concerto with no profundity". I dont agree to that! I love its warm, dark, romantic flows of music. Its an exeptinal Romantic concerto, and if you happen to know more other "unknown concerto's" from the Romantic age, you have to agree that this is not a fun concerto, but a serious outburst of feelings. I know three performances: by Ponti, Lewenthal, and the last by Hamelin, which is a very beautifull one. I still curse the day that I did nit notice an opportuntity to hear the cocerto in reality by Ponti, in The Hague, Holland (only ten minutes by train from the place where I lived then). The critic the day after wrote about "a shamefull imitation of Chopin", something I hope to learn more about one day, because I do not get the point of what he meaned by that. Because it is an unique, beatifull concerto, and it should be performed much more, also in the concert-hall of today. But where are the new adventurous pianists who dare to do this?"

(No title).

offeck | New York, NY -- United States of America | 12/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc is among the finest, if not the finest, of Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series. (Most) all credit, of course, is due to the pianist, Marc Andre Hamelin, who, in his phenomenal technical abilities and superb musicianship, delivers astonishingly dexterous, breathtaking, highly persuasive, commited performances of each of these compositions staggeringly unforgiving and formidable difficulties, written to be so well concealed that they become almost transparent to the ear... A thoroughly enjoyable disc!"