Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–1888) was a French composer and one of the most remarkable piano virtuosos of the 19th century. Despite being somewhat overlooked during his lifetime and for many years after his death, Alkan has since gained recognition for his deeply innovative and challenging compositions. His body of work is notable for its complexity, requiring exceptional technical skill, and is characterized by its emotional depth and intellectual rigor.

Alkan was a contemporary of Chopin and Liszt, and while he enjoyed a measure of fame in his early career, he gradually withdrew from the public eye, focusing on composition and teaching. His music, intricate and often monumental in scale, includes ambitious works such as the "Symphonie pour piano seul" and the "Concerto pour piano seul" from his "Op. 39 Études dans tous les tons mineurs," which are considered among the pinnacles of solo piano literature. Despite his retreat from concert performance, Alkan's compositions, rich with virtuosity and expressiveness, have continued to captivate pianists and audiences, securing his legacy as a pioneering figure in music history.

Genres

Early Modern Classical

French Romanticism

Late Romantic Era

Related Artists

Robert Schumann

Frédéric Chopin

Franz Liszt

Ferruccio Busoni

Johannes Brahms

Alexander Scriabin

Claude Debussy

Erik Satie

Camille Saint-Saëns

Franz Schubert

Felix Mendelssohn

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Latest Release

Charles-Valentin Alkan: Piano Music, Vol. 1 - Symphonie pour piano seul; Le mois

Charles-Valentin Alkan

Album - 16 Tracks - Released January 30, 2024