Alkan: Grande Sonate “Les Quatre Âges” Op. 33 – 30 Ans (Video)
The second movement of Charles-Valentin Alkan’s Grande Sonate “Les quatre âges” Op. 33. This movement, in d minor, is in extended sonata form, and is marked assez vite. Subtitled “Quasi-Faust”, it depicts the 30-year-old man fighting and prevailing over his dark side, and has 3 themes: Faust, the Devil (an inversion of Faust’s theme) and the meloncholic Marguerite’s theme. It is the most substantial movement in the sonata. This movement is extremely difficult, featuring rapid chords and octaves, enormous leaps in both hands, sweeping arpeggios, as well a brief, eight-voice fugue. Played by Marc-André Hamelin, video taken from the documentary Super Virtuoso.
Amazing! I love Ronald Smith’s recording too, and Raymond Lewenthal’s.
perhaps Alkan’s greatest work, being able to take a look over Hamelin’s shoulder on this is awesome. I especially like the editing that focuses on his fingers and only shows Hamelin in the quiet emotional passages, all the daring fingerwork is there to watch!
I have 80% of Hamelin’s work on CD and I have always felt this is his crowning achievement. For some reason this work brings out a different side of Hamelin’s personality/playing. There is an almost satanic drive that is truly frightening. From the astonishing clarity of the 8-voice fugue to the wrath in the scathing chordal sections, Hamelin displays an inner drive that is truly terrifying. Astonishing and unparalleled.
How he remains so composed I just don’t know! I only wish they had shown the WHOLE fugal section. His technique is absolutely incredible, but sometimes I feel he takes things a little too fast (just my opinion obviously)…
thanks for uploading in a much better image quality!!!
His technique is incredible! And not just virtuosity, but touch, sensitivity, color, and dynamic range… unbelievable! This is performed so well, too! Hamelin doing what he does best: making incredible music!
Breathtaking perfomance… Hamelin is the boss
@OrangeSodaKing Although I do think this is very fast.
Surprisingly many wrong notes! (comparing to the studio recording)
@iplongnin Comments like these are incredibly disrespectful towards the musician and the music itself.
Oh, @AcePro, I am talking something as a matter of fact.; Your interpretation about “disrespect” is maybe over sensitive.
@iplongnin Yeah, I do get a little oversensitive when it comes to that kind of thing =p
This gargantuan movement from the sonata is one of my favorite pieces of music ever but I do agree that he is a bit on the quick side in the live performance.
@iplongnin Who want’s to sell a studio recording with wrote notes in… Btw who cares if he makes some mistakes the way he plays this is incredible, this is a very hard piece, technically and musical…
@brianCIM I was introduced to both Alkan and Hamelin by the original Hyperion Alkan disc. I completely agree that this work brings out the best of Hamelin. Obviously, the studio recording has no errors but I really like this live performance. I don’t have a problem the brisker tempo. I think it makes this performance that much more astonishing. My favorite Alkan movement played by my favorite pianist documented by a live video treasure…does it get any better?
@brianCIM I was introduced to both Alkan and Hamelin by the original Hyperion Alkan disc. I completely agree that this work brings out the best of Hamelin. Obviously, the studio recording has no errors but I really like this live performance. I don’t have a problem the brisker tempo. I think it makes this performance that much more astonishing. My favorite Alkan movement played by my favorite pianist documented by a live video treasure…does it get any better?
Is there any version without audio lag?
non ci trovo nulla d interessante tranne in alcune parti e’ solo un insieme di mote a casaccio non ha nulla che vedere con i lavori di litz chopin ecc
This movement is my favorite.
Qui a influencé l’autre? Liszt? Chopin? ou bien est-ce l’influence romantique en général qui a dicté aux uns et aux autres ces mélodies et harmonies?
…musical embodiment of the idea of digital sex…Mr. Hamelin kind of could see into the future, evidently…
1:13 – Frosty the snowman. sorry I had to do that, I love Alkan but it couldn’t be ignored.