Veteran enthusiasts of Alkan will need no introduction to Ronald Smith’s superlative 1977 recording of the complete Etudes, Op. 39 and other pieces. These originally appeared as a two-LP set on EMI, but up until now they have inexplicably eluded transfer to CD in this country (they appeared in the USA on Arabesque). Thanks to APR these are once again available, and in addition superbly transferred and annotated. The Etudes are most notable for the inclusion of two of Alkan’s most famous solo piano pieces – the Symphony for solo piano (comprising Etudes Nos. 4-7) and the Concerto for solo piano (Etudes Nos. 8-10). Both works have had their champions over the years from Egon Petri (who recorded the Symphony in 1952 – now available on Symposium, 8/94, and APR) through to Raymond Lewenthal, John Ogdon and more recently Marc-Andre Hamelin and Jack Gibbons. But few would deny that it is Ronald Smith to whom we perhaps owe the greatest debt of gratitude for rescuing these particular pieces from musical oblivion. Other studies in the set include the curiously titled and innovative “Le festin d’Esope” and the finger-blistering “Comme le vent”. As fill-ups we also get the breathtaking Allegro barbaro from the Op. 35 Etudes (which is said to have influenced Bartok’s similarly titled study), the atmospherically titled and even more bizarre sounding La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer, and the Trois petites fantaisies, Op. 41.
As for the performances, well, we are talking about one of the supreme exponents of Alkan’s music here, and someone who had lived with and performed these pieces for many years prior to these recordings. Hamelin and Gibbons (the latter on a two-disc set) bring greater flair and precision perhaps, but dedicated Alkan enthusiasts will not hesitate in purchasing these classic recordings. For those approaching Alkan’s music for the first time this set would be an ideal starting place. '