Corleone
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Charles-Valentin Alkan
Any admirers of his music? I discovered this composer only a few months ago, and he almost immediately became my favourite composer ( along with Chopin and Liszt ). Both Jack Gibbons and Marc-André Hamelin are so amazing at portraying his music! Alkan is not as well known as most other composers, and his music seemed to have been forgotten for quite some time, but it is now enjoying a revival. However, the music is requires such virtuosity that it will most likely never be played as much as that of other composers - it's simply too difficult for many. Liszt's Douze-Grandes Études are a walk in the park compared to Alkan.
In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, here's a sample of his music:
Symphony Opus 39, Number 4.
Concerto for Solo Piano, first movement.
Especially listen to the climax from about 7:45 onwards. It's so incredible it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Furthermore, the working towards the ending ( from approximately 24:00 onwards ) is exceptionally beautiful.
Symphony Opus 39, Number 7
Any admirers of his music? I discovered this composer only a few months ago, and he almost immediately became my favourite composer ( along with Chopin and Liszt ). Both Jack Gibbons and Marc-André Hamelin are so amazing at portraying his music! Alkan is not as well known as most other composers, and his music seemed to have been forgotten for quite some time, but it is now enjoying a revival. However, the music is requires such virtuosity that it will most likely never be played as much as that of other composers - it's simply too difficult for many. Liszt's Douze-Grandes Études are a walk in the park compared to Alkan.
In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, here's a sample of his music:
Symphony Opus 39, Number 4.
Concerto for Solo Piano, first movement.
Especially listen to the climax from about 7:45 onwards. It's so incredible it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Furthermore, the working towards the ending ( from approximately 24:00 onwards ) is exceptionally beautiful.
Symphony Opus 39, Number 7