Whose solo piano music floats your boat?

[BBMmk2]

Been dipping into Martha Argerich's marvelous Warner Bros box of Solos and Duos. Well worth getting, iof you haven't any of them right now. Her Chopin and Schumann are something else, imo.

[Beef Oven!]

Evening BeefO
Surely you need Ronald Smith in the complete Op 39?
Hamelin has only recorded the Symphony and Concerto and No 12 from Op 39 AFAIK but they are fab and his Festin is the best ever IMO.
I don't find Gibbons the least bit fatiguing and Maltempo (great name)is superb
I can never make my mind up which is my favourite,we are blessed to have so many great Alkan recordings available.
According to his website Jack Gibbons was performing in July of this year,he may also be busy composing too.
Jonathan of this parish may have some more enlightening views and news if he is around.
CVA is my favourite composer for the piano by a mile

Thanks for this, Rob.

I haven't heard the Ronald Smith or the Hamelin. Will keep an eye/ear out for them.

[Jonathan]

Indeed I do! However my lunchtime at work is finished so I'll respond properly later on!

[BBMmk2]

Thanks for this, Rob.

I haven't heard the Ronald Smith or the Hamelin. Will keep an eye/ear out for them.

I don't know whether you can order it from such places, like amazon but the pianist Jack Gibbons, on ASV had recorded an excellent double=cd for ASV. Well worth it if you can!

[Beef Oven!]

I don't know whether you can order it from such places, like amazon but the pianist Jack Gibbons, on ASV had recorded an excellent double=cd for ASV. Well worth it if you can!

Thanks BBM - I've often repeated myself that I saw Jack Gibbons perform the whole of that ASV set in 1995 (?) at the RFH and I bought the CDs very soon after the concert and therefore have had them for about 22 years!

He also gave an interesting commentary in between each of the works/movements.

[BBMmk2]

Thanks BBM - I've often repeated myself that I saw Jack Gibbons perform the whole of that ASV set in 1995 (?) at the RFH and I bought the CDs very soon after the concert and therefore have had them for about 22 years!

He also gave an interesting commentary in between each of the works/movements.

It's a very fine set indeed and what a concert that sounds like!

[gradus]

Chopin second sonata at the present time seems to have me in it's clutches, courtesy of Horowitz and latterly Argerich, both of whom seem to possess the temperament to bring off this baffling piece.

[MickyD]

Charles-Valentin Alkan - 12 Études dans les tons mineurs, Op. 39: Nos. 8 - 12 Concerto, Overture & Le festin d'Ésope
Vicenzo Maltempo. Brilliant Classics download.

I really was in two minds (for about 20 seconds) about buying this set after Bryn flagged it up on another thread. I already have a 2 CD Jack Gibbons set that I bought more than 20 years ago following a 2 hour JG Alkan concert at the RFH.

Did I need another set?

Yes!

I've been dipping in and out of this set since downloading it last night and I've been surprised at how much I enjoy the playing and sound of Vicenzo Maltempo, Mark Viner et al. In fact I keep getting drawn back to listen more and more, something that never really happened with the JG set, no matter how good it is. By comparison I find JG a tad aggressive and mechanical. VM, for example, is a much better listen for me. I wonder if the recording has much to do with it. The JG set on ASV is quite in yer face (?).

Does anyone have the JB set and this one? Any views?

Afterthought: I love the Jack Gibbons set, and would not be without it, but I think I find it fatiguing. I've only just realised this after so many years!

Being interested in period pianos, I acquired the Stanley Hoogland and Constantino Mastroprimiano Brilliant discs which are available separately. I find the playing of the miniatures by Hoogland and the sound of his 1858 Pleyel particularly charming. I thought the reviewer on Saturday's Record Review was rather ungenerous with her remarks.

[Jonathan]

Evening BeefO
Surely you need Ronald Smith in the complete Op 39?
Hamelin has only recorded the Symphony and Concerto and No 12 from Op 39 AFAIK but they are fab and his Festin is the best ever IMO.
I don't find Gibbons the least bit fatiguing and Maltempo (great name)is superb
I can never make my mind up which is my favourite,we are blessed to have so many great Alkan recordings available.
According to his website Jack Gibbons was performing in July of this year,he may also be busy composing too.
Jonathan of this parish may have some more enlightening views and news if he is around.
CVA is my favourite composer for the piano by a mile

Right, I'm back after a very hectic week at work! I have Maltempo's recordings, as well as Gibbons, Hamelin (both versions) and various others (including a Concerto for solo piano played at the Alkan Society "do" by an amateur pianist - it's incredible) and I think Maltempo is the best. His way of playing is certainly different to (e.g.) Hamelin's but seeing as the work is so complex, it's certainly better to have as many recordings as possible. There is another recording of the work I've got, one by Yui Morishita but I've not yet had a chance to play it properly. I know also he has another recording out of the remainder of the Op.39 studies (he's already done the Symphonie) out soon. He is well worth looking up on u-tube; his Scherzo fucoso (Op.34) has to be heard to be believed!!

I originally planned to see the Jack Gibbons performance in Oxford however not having a job for 3 months put pay to that idea.

I've also ordered Mark Viner's Op.35 (didn't think it was worth buying the Brilliant Classics boxed set as I have almost all the recordings in it anyway) - I was really impressed with his Liszt and Thalberg discs.

[Beef Oven!]

Hi Jonathan, thank you for your interesting thoughts on this. I had only ever heard the Jack Gibbons until this week when I downloaded the Brilliant Classics set and listened to the op.39 performed by Vincenzo Maltempo and instantly preferred it.

[ahinton]

Hi Jonathan, thank you for your interesting thoughts on this. I had only ever heard the Jack Gibbons until this week when I downloaded the Brilliant Classics set and listened to the op.39 performed by Vincenzo Maltempo and instantly preferred it.

Maltempo is indeed a formidable pianist and has played a fair amount of Alkan; I would be surprised if he doesn't add more of his work to his repertoire over time.

[Beef Oven!]

Maltempo is indeed a formidable pianist and has played a fair amount of Alkan; I would be surprised if he doesn't add more of his work to his repertoire over time.

Has he been near Sorabji?

[Jonathan]

I should also have said, I've got Ronald Smith's recording too!

[BBMmk2]

Must do some exploring here, then Jonathan

[mahlerei]

I much enjoy the solo piano music of 'the Creole Chopin', Louis Moreau Gottschalk. Le banjo and Tremolo are terrific pieces, and they sound particularly good in Philip Martin's complete traversal for Hyperion.