Charles-Valentin Alkan: The Complete Transcriptions, Volume One: Mozart
The gloriously maverick music of Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–88) is more familiar now than ever before. But even though his original compositions are now beginning to be heard in concert programmes, his equally idiosyncratic transcriptions have not yet been systematically documented in recordings – an omission this series, which begins with Alkan’s complete transcriptions of Mozart, seeks to redress.
José Raúl López, piano
Listen To This Recording:
- Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K543: Minuet and Trio
- Thamos, Konig in Agypten, K345: ‘Ne pulvis et cinis superbe’
- Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550: Minuet and Trio
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Theme
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Variation 1
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Variation 2
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Variation 3
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Variation 4
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Variation 5
- String Quartet in A major, K464: II Andante: Variation 6 – Coda
- Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466: I Allegro
- Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466: II Romanza
- Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K466: III Prestissimo
Fanfare Magazine :
‘… And though one may question whether we still need solo piano transcriptions of orchestral and chamber works, many of which we all know well through recordings, my answer would be an unambiguous “yes.” Not only do these works provide a window into 19th-century performance practice—certainly Alkan approached Mozart differently than George Szell did with an orchestra, or Murray Perahia does at the piano—they also give us an ability to see this music’s influence on Alkan the composer as well. And besides that they make for highly enjoyable listening, especially when played so adeptly as by the pianist here, José Raúl López (who also wrote the very fine program notes, complete with footnotes, for those interested in learning more about Alkan). In his hands the faster passages sparkle, while the slower, more lyrical ones truly sing. … Listen to those cadenzas in Mozart’s D-Minor Concerto and you’ll get his understanding of Alkan’s humor and irony to a tee! He knows just when and where to hold a note, to push forward, and to tonally alter the sound to get the maximum effect out of this music.
So, what else can be said? Excellent performances, informative program notes, fascinating repertoire, all captured in pristine sound—grab it and enjoy. Whether you know Mozart or not, this will make you appreciate him anew.’
—Scott Noriega, Fanfare Magazine, November/December 2015
MusicWeb International :
‘A lot of the appeal of this CD is the performance by López, […], and he relishes in the virtuosic challenges of Alkan’s transcription while still speaking in Mozart’s voice. This series is in good hands going forward. […] The booklet, as mentioned, goes into considerable detail, though it helps if you have some technical musical background. […] I’ll be looking forward to more releases in this series, and if you like Mozart, Alkan, or piano music, you should be excited, too.’
—Brian Reinhart, MusicWeb International
Artes y Letras :
‘En este registro de estreno, el maestro José Raúl López saca a la luz esta faceta injustamente ignorada de Alkan, en una serie que se inicia con las transcripciones completes que este hiciera de obras de Mozart, tanto orquestralas como para piano. López interpreta magistralmente transcripciones de movimientos de las sinfonias 39 y 40, del Cuarteto de cuerdas en la mayor, y el concierto para piano numero 20.’
—Jesús Vega, Artes y Letras, August 2015