A welcome and much?needed tribute to the most neglected Genius of the 19th century: Charles?Valentin Alkan.

Charles?Valentin Alkan was one of the most important pianists and pianocomposers of the 19th century, although he lived the largest part of his life in obscurity and seclusion. He was a close friend of Chopin (they were neighbours in Paris) and he was the only pianist in whose presence the great Franz Liszt was nervous to play.

Alkan’s works reveal a strikingly original genius, they range from the smallest miniatures to the most colossal creations, from the bizarre to the grandiose, from the intimate to the heroic.

This Edition includes the major piano works: both cycles Studies in all the minor and major keys (Op. 39 and 35), the Grande Sonata, the Concerti da Camera, organ works and chamber music.

Played (among others) by today’s best Alkan interpreters: Giovanni Bellucci, Mark Viner and above all Vincenzo Maltempo, who received several glowing 5?star reviews for his performances: “exhilarating, a revelation!“ (Guardian, selected among the 10 best CD’s of 2012), “his playing flashes with summer lightning” (Gramophone), “Maltempo puts his phenomenal technique at the service of his poetic vision”(Piano News), “with this passionate performance Maltempo confirms his place in the restricted circle of Alkan’s best performers” (5 star, Diapason) and many more.

Vincenzo Maltempo (piano), Mark Viner (piano), Laurent Martin (piano), Alan Weiss (piano), Alessandro Deljavan (piano), Costantino Mastroprimiano (piano), Stanley Hoogland (piano), Trio Alkan, Giovanni Bellucci (piano), Kevin Bowyer (organ)