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Alkan - Esquisses, Op. 63 - Laurent Martin 

The challenge facing Laurent Martin in making 49 diverse pieces interesting and musical is immense. But I dare say he overcomes it to a great extent.

The Esquisses ("Sketches" in English) cover a wide variety of moods and colors. Alkan excelled himself here, penning vignettes of great variety and even charm. From haunting (No. 4 Les cloches & No. 26 Petit air) to exciting (No. 15 Tutti de Concerto dans le genre ancien & No. 27 Rigaudon) to charmingly grotesque (No. 23 L'Homme aux sabots & No. 45 Les diablotins), these pieces are sure to please anyone who has found pleasure in Alkan's unique piano idiom.

The performance, while not possessing the transcendental feel of Hamlin or Gibbon's recordings, is certainly more than adequate. Martin's technique is unfailing, his musicality almost equally so. This CD, first released on the Marco Polo label, has better sound than most Marco Polo releases from the late 80s and early 90s (this CD was recorded in December 1990), but still lacks something. Sometimes the piano sound is slightly brash, but the ear adjusts: I cannot call the recording quality anything less than good.

Dank aan originele poster!