Le Festin

Product Description
HALLOWEEN does exist since the early Eighties. Jean-Philippe BRUN (Violin & vocals), Gilles COPPIN (Keyboards) and Philippe Di FAOSTINO (Drums) are the musical basis of the band. "Le Festin" is the fifth album by this french band based in Brest, which has been doing a lot of shows all over the world (Like the Progfest in Los-Angeles in 1994), and is considered as one of the two or three best French Progressive rock bands of the past two decades. The group is famous among Progressive rock lovers, being one of the "old" French ones, with a definitely specific style and sound. They have been compared, in the beginning of their career, to UK, KING CRIMSON & VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and some others, mainly because of the violin’s virtuosity (Jean-Philippe BRUN is a classical music’s concertist). But they have created their own style, made of keyboards’ dissonances, violin’s lyricism, gloomy and tortured atmospheres. These eight songs, featuring Géraldine Le COCQ (The former singer of the band), plus a new guitarist, are cruel parables about modern world’s madness and darkness. Perfectly composed, arranged and produced, they can’t be compared to anything else, except the previous albums by the band. A masterpiece !

Le Festin,Halloween

Average customer rating: Truly Virtuosic One of the best solo piano recordings ever made. so fast it misses the point An Inimitable Masterpiece Astonishing technique

Alkan: Grande sonate 'Les quatre âges', Sonatine, Le festin d'Esope Charles-Valentin Alkan , and Marc-André Hamelin Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Hamelin, Marc-André | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Alkan: Symphony for solo piano Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39 Godowsky: The Complete Studies on Chopin's Etudes Alkan: Piano Works; Ronald Smith Marc-André Hamelin Live at Wigmore Hall ASIN: B000002ZW4 Release Date: 1995-08-22

Tracks:

1. Grande Sonate 'Les Quatre Ages', Op. 33: 20 ans. Tres vite
2. Grande Sonate 'Les Quatre Ages', Op. 33: 30 ans, Quasi-Faust. Assez vite
3. Grande Sonate 'Les Quatre Ages', Op. 33: 40 ans, un menage heureux. Lentement
4. Grande Sonate 'Les Quatre Ages', Op. 33: 50 ans, Promethee enchaine. Extremement lent
5. Sonatine, Op. 61: Allegro vivace
6. Sonatine, Op. 61: Allegramente
7. Sonatine, Op. 61: Scherzo-Minuet
8. Sonatine, Op. 61: Tempo giusto - Coda
9. Barcarolle, Op. 65, No. 6
10. Le Festin d'Esope, Op. 39, No. 12

Customer Reviews:

Truly Virtuosic.......2007-05-14

The piano music of French Romantic composer Charles-Valentin Alkan is not for everyone. It would never be described as "easy listening." In fact, listening to Alkan's music, especially the first time, requires an effort almost as great as playing other music. Repeated hearings allow one to penetrate the intensity and appreciate the incredible complexity of the compositions, though it is reported that some listeners find the music too unsettling to ever enjoy. Certainly all will find that the music on this CD evokes a wide range of reactions.
If Alkan is a virtuoso as a composer, than the pianist on this CD, Canadian Marc-Andre Hamelin, is equally great. Few pianists are up to the task of performing Alkan's music. Of those, Hamelin must be the best. His playing skills and understanding of the heart of the music make this a truly exceptional CD.

One of the best solo piano recordings ever made........2005-05-22

This disc is totally astonishing. One you start listening to it you will not be able to stop. The Grande Sonate is one of the most beautiful, moving, complex pieces of music for solo piano ever written. Hamelin brings it to life like no one else can. If you have never listened to Alkan, this is a fine introduction to some of the greatest (and most forgotten) piano music ever composed. And if you have never listened to Hamelin - this is probably his greatest work ever. The more you listen to the Grande Sonate the more you discover in it. You wait for those dramatic, breathtaking moments. You marvel at how two human hands can produce these sounds through the piano, and you continually find more subtlies and nuances in this materpiece. Words fail in describing how great this recording is. If you love piano music - get it. It you love Alkan it is truly a must.

so fast it misses the point.......2005-05-20

Much of Alkan's music is vacuous. This is not to dismiss its value, but it is to say that there is much which is of interest because of the technical demands and effects which are on display, and the apparent challenge and impressiveness which these incur. The Grande Sonate stands alone as being altogether different. It is a poetic masterpiece. It is a misconception to regard Alkan as being simply a composer of pyrotechnical virtuosity, even if it is a common and understandable one. What is unforgiveable is to treat the Grande Sonate in the same way as one might approach 'Comme le Vent', 'le Chemin de Fer', the 'Scherzo-Focoso' or any other piece which is clearly reliant on a stringent adherence to tempo and little in the way of expressive variation. Is it sensible to condone a performer who does this? One who plays note-perfectly at an astonishingly fast pace, yet who does not take the requisite time to bring out the almost infinitely complex and inter-related themes, motifs, ideas that inhere the piece? If you are interested in hearing someone play challenging music very quickly then buy this recording. If you want to hear what is arguably the most original work of solo piano writing to come out of the nineteenth-century performed with all the poetic nuance that it deserves, then buy Pierre Reach's stunning recording. Hamelin is an incredibly athletic and gifted pianist, and perhaps an ideal exponent of Alkan, but the Grande Sonate deserves a more patient and respectful approach, and this is not to be found on this recording.

An Inimitable Masterpiece.......2004-06-30

There are special moments in life when you remember exactly what you were doing when it happened. I remember exactly what I was doing when I first heard Bruckner's Eight (Guilini), Mahler's Second (Bernstein), Liszt Sonata (Horowitz), Gaspard de la Nuit (Michelangeli), and I can still hear to this day Richter's Schuman Symphonic Etudes, just to name a few. They were all life-changing events. My friend and I were having dinner when Hamelin's Grande Sonata appeared from the radio. Wow! I remember asking, "What crazy person had the nerve to compose this?", and more importantly, "Who on earth had the gall to record it?" Up to this faithful day in 1995, I had never heard of Hamelin or Alkan.
On this disc, Hamelin plays with so much elan, control, and technical ease that it leaves you breathless. Although the legendary Raymond Lewenthal and the late Ronald Smith have to be commended for their efforts in popularizing Alkan's much-neglected music, I believe Hamelin and this disc has been even more influential. I don't know if Alkan playing on this disc will ever be matched. This is certainly one of the greatest albums in history and should be part of the collection of all true classical music fans.

Astonishing technique.......2004-05-23

Marc-Andre Hamelin is an astounding virtuoso. He gives life to Alkan's works, which I hear for the very first time! It is really mind-boggling how he succeeds in tackling the Augean stables of the eight-part fugue at the end of Quasi-Faust!!!
It is no wonder, then that even Liszt was afraid to compete with Alkan, whom he deemed a superior virtuoso to himself. Alkan's music in itself has a tremendous intrinsic value, which, if one can feel, describes to such depth the essence of the human soul!

Average customer rating: The embodiment of FURY Completely over the top! Good alternative. (No title). An incredible recording! Gibbons' Alkan is superb!

Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39 Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Nocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Alkan: Grande sonate 'Les quatre âges', Sonatine, Le festin d'Esope Alkan: Symphony for solo piano Alkan: Piano Music, Volume 1: 12 Etudes, Op. 35 Alkan: Piano Works; Ronald Smith Alkan: Sonate de Concert; Grand Duo Concertant; Piano Trio ASIN: B0000030PK Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

1. Etude No.1: Comme Le Vent
2. Etude No.2: En Rythme Molossique
3. Etude No.3: Scherzo Diabolico
4. Etude No.4: Sym-First Movt: Allegro
5. Etude No.5: Sym-Second Movt: Marche Funebre
6. Etude No.6: Sym-Third Movt: Menuet
7. Etude No.7: Sym-Fourth Movt: Finale
8. Nocturne in B, Op.22
9. Allegro Barbaro: Etudes, Op.35 No.5
10. Assez Vivement: Chants, Op.38 No.1
11. J'etait Endormie, Mais Mon Coeur Veillait: Prlds, Op.31 No.13
12. Le Staccatissimo: Esquisses, Op.63 No.2
13. Les Cloches: Esquisses, Op.63 No.4
14. Les Soupirs: Esquisses, Op.63 No.11
15. En Songe: Esquisses, Op.63 No.48
16. Gros Temps: Les Mois, Op.74 1st Ste No.1
17. Barcarolle: Chants, Op.65 No.6
18. La Chanson De La Folle Au Bord De La Mer: Prlds, Op.13 No.8
19. Le Temps Qui N'est Plus: Prlds, Op.31 No.12

Tracks:

1. Etude No.8: Con-First Movt: Allegro Assai
2. Etude No.9: Con-Second Movt: Adagio
3. Etude No.10: Con-Third Movt: Allegretto Alla Barberesca
4. Etude No.11: Ov
5. Etude No.12: Le Festin D'Esope

Amazon.com

Alkan's gargatuan Op. 39 Etudes embody a symphony (Etudes 4-7), a solo concertos (Etudes 8-10), an overture (No. 11), and a riotous set of 25 variations depicting the animals of Aesop's fables (No. 12, La festin d'Esope). The music demands boundless technique and stamina, which Jack Gibbons supplies in spades. He dives headfirst into the treacherous writing, letting the chips fall where they may. One can't really top Marc-Andre Hamelin's unflappable proficiency in the concertos, yet Gibbons rougher, leonine demeanor thrusts Alkan's Dionysiac qualities more to the fore. Bet you can't digest this yummy 12-plus course piano feast all in one sitting! --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

The embodiment of FURY.......2004-09-24

Gibbons' occasional technical vulnerabilities give these performances a human edge missing from hamelin's recordings. Alkan's op39 is music the pianist must fight with. Blood and sweat are a must. Its raw fury can be lost when cooly presented (ala Hamelin). The symphony finale oozes raw excitement under Gibbons' hands. Like in a disaster movie, we root for the protagonist and hope he survives through to the end. A most rewarding experience.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Completely over the top!.......2003-08-04

The main differences between this recording and the only other complete recording of the minor key etudes by Ronald Smith are:

1. Superior sound
2. A virtuosity that must be heard to be believed. Gibbons plays fast, Gibbons plays loud, Gibbons plays soft, Gibbons plays all the notes, and all the while Gibbons plays them musically! A truly remarkable performance of some very complex music.

But the recording by Smith has much going for it too. In an ideal world, if you're a fan of Alkan, get both recordings. I've got them both!

Good alternative........2002-11-02

It's a good alternative to Hamelin's recordings. With a really wilder approach!!

(No title)........2000-12-15

Comme Le Vent, Like the wind, is a firey, unrelenting deluge of notes which, if played at Alkan's specified metronome marking, travels at the rate of 160 bars per minute -- 20 densely packed pages in just 4'30," and Gibbons falls unbelievably only 7 seconds short! En Rhythm Molossique and Scherzo Diabolico, both technically wicked compositions, receive commanding and sure-footed performances. The Symphony further demonstates Gibbons proficiency in adherence to tempo and metronome markings inspite of taxing athletic and visceral demands, giving it a great sense of impetus, space, and drive. The Concerto, in his hands, is less classical and crisp than Hamelin's, but more wildly romantic; an extraordinary feat of virtuosity. Le festin d'Esope and Allegro Barbaro in all their fiendish and barbaric virtuosity get very poetic readings, very rare indeed... The more slow pieces all fall within the heartbeat, receiving sensitive, simple, and atmospheric performances... Gibbons is an Alkan interpreter of exceptional authority, and I cannot wait until his next release (of anything). In excellent sound, this very generous two-CD set is a TOP recommendation!

An incredible recording! Gibbons' Alkan is superb!.......1999-09-04

Alkan's Magnum Opus (39) has been seen recorded many times over the past years in part, as well as in whole. Jack Gibbons demonstrates that his interpretation of this monstrously challenging set stands at the very top of the list. Out of the 250+ CDs I own, I would have to say that this is the best. Gibbons' "Comme le Vent" is breathtakingly virtuostic and full of velocity. His "En Rythm Molossique" is a great wall of power and control, his "Scherzo Diabolique", feindish and scary. This recording of the "Symphonie" is fantastic, second only to Lewenthal's. His "Concerto" is very ordered, the finale a dazzling display of pianism (despite the missed note in the final black-key run). The "Ouverture" is the best recorded yet, and shows the true depth of Alkan's creations; I could write a review on just this piece! His "Festin" is a bit slow, but he never overexagerates the tempos. The other pieces added to the first disc ruin one's picture of the all-out-bravura crazed Alkan, replacing it with a sensitive, profound one. This CD is truly incredible. If you have any affection for Art Music whatsoever, this recording is a must have!

Average customer rating: Amen - great pieces Alkan Joins the Pianistic Olympus Ringeissen puts up a great struggle, Alkan wins in the end

Alkan: Piano Music, Volume 1: 12 Etudes, Op. 35 Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39 Alkan: Piano Works; Ronald Smith Alkan: Sonate de Concert; Grand Duo Concertant; Piano Trio Alkan: Grande sonate 'Les quatre âges', Sonatine, Le festin d'Esope Esquisses Op 63 ASIN: B00005NUOR Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

1. Le Festin D'Esope, Op.39 No.12
2. Scherzo Diabolico, Op.39 No.3
3. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: I. Etude in A
4. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: II. Etude in D
5. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: III. Etude in G
6. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: IV. Etude in C
7. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: V. Etude in F (Allegro Barbaro)
8. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: VI. Etude in B flat
9. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: VII. Etude in E flat (L'incendie Au Village Voisin)
10. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: VIII. Etude in A flat
11. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: IX. Etude in c# (Contrapunctus)
12. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: X. Etude in G flat (Chant D'amour - Chant De Mort)
13. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: XI. Etude in B
14. 12 Etudes (Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs), Op.35: XII. Etude in E

Amazon.com

Bernard Ringeissen has the big technique and stylistic empathy to deliver outstanding performances of Alkan's weird and wonderful piano music. His well-received Alkan series on Marco Polo is now being reissued on Naxos, whose budget price makes it an even more desirable acquisition. Ringeissen plays with the energy necessary to make the music come alive. He's no Marc-André Hamelin, whose Alkan recordings are unchallenged, as we can hear in Le Festin d'Esope, which opens the program. But few pianists are in Hamelin's league, and Ringeissen shines in the hourlong Op. 35 Etudes, a dozen pieces exploring the major keys. Some are short studies; others are tone poems for keyboard, such as the 7th Etude, a description of a village fire. The 5th Etude is titled Allegro barbaro, published in 1847, well over half-a-century before Bartok's famous work of the same name, whose tremendous power it anticipates. A well-played program of enduring interest, it's marred only by subpar engineering. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Amen - great pieces.......2006-05-19

Tacky (the guy below me) said just about everything there is to say about this CD but I would like to add one other thing. As well as #7, etudes #10 and #11 are two of the greatest Romantic-era pieces I have ever heard. #10 will leave you stunned, I guarantee it. The ending might disappoint on first hearing, but once the meaning becomes clear, it is as powerful as any. Listen a second and a third time. #11 is the best possible answer to #10, an uplifting but never pretentious piece. Why more pianists don't play these two pieces consecutively in concert baffles me.

A lot of these etudes are great kind of in the same way that Mozart and Haydn are great (although the musical style is very different). Sometimes (the key word is sometimes) the music isn't necessarily the deepest thing you've ever heard, but its compositional prowess and genius and the sense of inspiration is so impressive that you can't help but appreciate the music. Same story here. 7, 10 and 11 stand out for emotional power and depth, but COMPOSITIONALLY just about all of these are masterpieces, in terms of never losing steam, always displaying a constant flow of musical innovation, etc. Far more inspired than most of Liszt's etudes in my opinion.

Alkan Joins the Pianistic Olympus.......2006-04-25

Charles-Valentin Alkan is one of the 19th century's greatest composers for piano. Busoni placed him next to Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and Liszt. Sorabji described Alkan's music as having Beethovenian quality with Berliozian aesthetics. On his deathbed, Chopin requested his unfinished and unpublished drafts to be given to Alkan. This is a composer who has been respected by the giants of pianism and yet completely relegated to obscurity by the music cognoscenti and the public. This Naxos reissue of a Marco Polo release is one of the top-five essential Alkan recordings, with Hamelin's discography for Hyperion at the top. You will be hard-pressed to find a better performance or a cheaper recording of the Op. 35 anywhere else.

Alkan's Op. 35 Etudes seems like a fusion between the technical aims and musical substance of Chopin's and Liszt's Etudes. Each of Alkan's Etudes possesses not only a wealth of melody, but a high degree of individual expression and a pure Alkanian technical signature. Without a doubt, Chopin's lyricism was Alkan's greatest influence in these Etudes; however, one can surely detect Liszt in the overflowing bravura and knuckle-busting virtuosity. Upon acknowledging the sheer pianistic feats and exceptional quality of music in these Etudes, I'm inclined to believe they supplant those of Hummel, Moscheles, Saint-Saens, and even Henselt.

Consider the third study in G major: it starts off as a lovely harmonically stable Andantino, until an intense rift of drama interrupts and brings forth an infernal torrent of passagework that makes Chopin's Op. 25 No. 11 sound like a mere "Breezy Wind." Then there is the fifth Etude, a jaw-dropping and savage "Allegro barbaro" (no relation to Bartok), utilizing only the white keys. Rhythmically and melodically this is the most satisfying virtuosic Etude of the set, one that reaches astonishing tone colors in the impossibly rapid last section. The next masterstroke that balances technical objective with poetic content is the lengthy seventh Etude, "Fire in the Neighboring Village." This is the first "programme" Etude I'm aware of, narrating and suggesting a story like a symphonic poem. Forget the programme, though, because this music doesn't need it. Rivaling the violence, turbulence and heroism of Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude," this work takes on monumental proportions. Its tranquil first section is tender enough, but the tormented central section gushes forth with Romantic grandeur, brutality and anger. If this outstanding piece isn't evidence enough of the amazing virtues of Alkan's Etudes, I would point to the ninth in C sharp major, the "Contrapunctus," a resplendent quasi-Busonian work of Romantic polyphonic texture and Lisztian timbres. It presages Medtner and Godowsky. While I've failed to mention every Etude in depth, they are all worth an equal amount of commentary. I might add one final remark on the powerfully expressive tenth, though, the "Chant d'amour - Chant de mort." Its arsenal includes Chopinesque beauty and Haydnesque surprise. This surprise is so important that Alkan attached a Latin quote to the Etude: "When you expect light, there comes darkness."

Although this recording is invaluable for the featured Op. 35 Etudes, Bernard Ringeissen has raised his status even higher with the precision and interpretative clairvoyance he exercises in the two Op. 39 Etudes, the great "Le Festin d'Esope" and "Scherzo diabolico." I've heard Jack Gibbons, Marc-Andre Hamelin and Ronald Smith perform the 25 variations of the Op. 39 No. 12, and I must say Ringeissen's execution is by far the most agreeable, demonstrating clarity and dynamics that are lacking in other performances. I find Hamelin's delivery too fast and histrionic; and although Gibbons's interpretation is excellent, there is an extra suavity, rhythmic sensitivity and insight into the melodic lines that only Ringeissen has. For beginners to Alkan, this is definitely one of the best places to start, and the work takes its place in the pantheon of virtuosic Theme and Variations. Lastly, I must say that Ringeissen's rendition of the Scherzo diabolico is another success. He obtains a duality of devilish finesse and muscular attack, making it the best version I've heard.

Bottom line: Whether you're completely new to Alkan (as I was when I first bought this CD) or absolutely familiar with these Etudes, this Naxos release is a treasure trove of 19th century piano music. Alkan's Op. 35 is a vast reservoir of electrically-charged, thrilling, and expressive music. The exceptional quality of this music has convinced me that it ranks in the same group of Etudes as Chopin's, Liszt's, Henselt's and Rachmaninov's.

Ringeissen puts up a great struggle, Alkan wins in the end.......2003-06-18

My own private history gives a good example of the slow recognition of Alkan as a premier romantic piano composer. In 1989, after attending piano recitals for a quarter of a century I had never heard any of Alkan's works in concert or on radio. In that same year, Alkan made his first appearance in the novel "Au Pair" by the Dutch writer Willem Frederik Hermans. One of the novel's characters spent his time devoted to studying Alkan's music, which was described as unconventional and extremely difficult. A decade later, I finally had my first close encounter with Alkan after buying the John Ogdon issue in the great pianist of the 20th century series. Ogdon's performance of Alkan's "Concerto for Piano Solo" was certainly interesting, just like the Busoni concerto, but still has me wondering what really was so great about this pianist.

However, a year later the purchase of Marc-Andre Hamelin's first Hyperion Alkan cd completely changed my Alkan perception. Especially, after getting the scores of the music played, my admiration for both composer and performer knows no bounds. With my hands on all of Hamelin's Alkan, I was more than a little distressed to find out that he has no further plans for Alkan recordings. Le Roy se repose, vive le Roy ! Thus, a venture into alternative performers. Especially, because of their user-friendly budget, I was tickled by this disc and it's billing as volume I (of the complete Alkan catalogue?).

The disc at hand is a reissue of a 1993 recording on Naxos' sister label Marco Polo. The disc starts with Alkan's most popular work Le Festin D'Esope. This work is a real crowd pleasing theme with variations, an important element of Helen DeWitt's great novel "The Last Samurai", that contains stretches that I consider humanly impossible after getting Hamelin's edition of the score from Dover. Even though Ringeissen's technique is a few million light years beyond mine, he remains human and really struggles through some of these diabolical passages.

The rest of the album containes works that I had not heard before. Alkan's 12 studies Opus 35 are a blend between Chopin's Opus 10/25 and Liszt's Etudes d'execution transcendente, matching their technical difficulty without coming close to their compositional level. Yet, just like Saint Saens' etudes, that got the 5-star treatment by Piers Lane, Alkan's Opus 35 deserves more attention than it is currently getting. Both in his custom harmonics and in multi-layered piano writing Alkan really created a universe of his own. This universe is admittedly cruel since it poses technical difficulties that are hardly surmountable for all but the best of pianists.

Unfortunately, Ringeissen doesn't live in the speed demon realm of the likes of Pogorelich, Berezovsky, Luganski, or Sultanov, just to name a few non-Alkan players. Yet, most of the time his playing is more than adequate and enjoyable. Still, Ringeissen often has his hands so full, that many unique aspects of Alkan's music fall between the cracks. While a comparison of le Festin with Hamelin's version shows that Ringeissen does not get enough time to flesh out Alkan's sense of humor, many moments in the studies, where everything seems to be hitting the fan, lack the full romantic sense of heroism and bravura that the music exudes. Yet, while waiting for other pianists to jump the Alkan bandwagon -Pogorelich who is currently playing the even more obscure Martucci would be an obvious choice- Ringeissen's blood, sweat and tears should not remain un-praised.

Unfortunately, the recording quality is rather poor. The piano sound is metallic and the recording sounds murky in the denser passages. Moreover, all of Alkan's prescribed hammering results in an instrument that seems in dire need of tuning on some of the tracks.

Average customer rating:

Alkan: 12 Etudes, Op. 35 Manufacturer: Marco Polo ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000024OMT Release Date: 1994-07-14

Tracks:

1. Le Festin d'Esope, Op.39, No.12
2. Scherzo Diabolico, Op.39, No.3
3. I. Etude In A Major
4. II. Etude In D Major
5. III. Etude In G Major
6. Etude In C Major
7. Etude In F Major(Allegro Barbaro)
8. Etude In B Flat Major
9. VII. Etude In E Flat Major (L'incendie Au Village Voisin)
10. III. Etude In A Flat Major
11. IX. Etude In C Sharp Major (Contrapunctus)
12. X. Etude In G Flat Major (Chant D'amour - Chant De Mort)
13. XI. Etude In B Major
14. Etude In E Major

Average customer rating: Two Great Ballets

Albert Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane, Op. 43 (Complete) / Le festin de l'araignée (The Spider's Banquet), Op. 17 (Complete) - Yan Pascal Tortelier / BBC Philharmonic Albert Roussel , Yan Pascal Tortelier , and BBC Philharmonic Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Roussel: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4; Bacchus et Ariane; Sinfonietta Roussel: Symphonies 1-4 Edward Rubbra - Complete Symphonies / Hickox Dvorák: Legends Saint-Saens: Introduction and Rondo capriccioso in Am; Danse macabre Op40 ASIN: B000000B04 Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

1. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Introduction
2. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Youths And Maidens At Play
3. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Labyrinthine Dance
4. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Bacchus Appears Disguised. The Dance Is Interrupted
5. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Bacchus Envelops Araine In His Balck Cloak. Ariadne Faints
6. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Theseus And His Companions Rush At Bacchus. He Reveals Himself To Them And With An Imperious Gesture Shows Them The Way To The Sea
7. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: The Clouds Gather In The Sky
8. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: The Sun Reappears
9. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Danse de Bacchus
10. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Ariadne, Still Asleep, Dances With Bacchus
11. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 1: Bacchus Lays Ariadne On The Rock
12. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: Ariadne Sleeps
13. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: Ariadne Awakes. She Looks About Her And Believing She Has Been Abandoned, Tries To Through Herself Into The Waves
14. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: She Falls Into The Arms Of Bacchus. They Relive Their Dream Dance, Ariadne Now Awake
15. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: Bacchus Dances Alone
16. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: The Kiss
17. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: The Dionysian Spell
18. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: The Worshippers Of Bacchus Process
19. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: Danse d'Ariane
20. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: Danse d'Ariane et de Bacchus
21. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: Bacchanale
22. Bacchus et Ariane, Op.43: Act 2: The Coronation Of Ariadne
23. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Prelude
24. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: A Garden. The Spider Sits In Her Web. She Surveys Her Surroundings
25. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Entrance Of The Ants. They Find A Rose Petal
26. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: With Great Effort They Lift The Petal And Carry It Away
27. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Spider Daydreams And Watches The Garden
28. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Spider Mends Her Web
29. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Entrance Of The Dung-Beetles
30. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Ants Return... A Butterfly Appears
31. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Dance Of The Butterfly
32. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Spider Invites The Butterfly To Dance Close To Her Web
33. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Butterfly Is Caught In The Web And Struggles. Death Of The Butterfly
34. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Spider Rejoices. The Spider Frees The Butterfly From Her Web And Takes It To Her Larder
35. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Spider Dances
36. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Suddenly Fruits Come Crashing Down
37. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Entrance Of The Fruit Worms
38. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Warlike Entrance Of The Two Praying Mantises
39. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Ants Circle
40. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Mantises Challenge Each Other To A Duel. The Mantises Fight.
41. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Mantises Become Caught In The Web. The Spider Dances
42. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Hatching Of The Mayfly
43. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Dance Of The Mayfly
44. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Mayfly Stops, Exhausted. The Insects Pay Their Respects. He Rejects Their Advances
45. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Ants Leave
46. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Worms Come Out Of The Fruit
47. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Dance Of The Mayfly And The Fruit Worms
48. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Death Of The Mayfly
49. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Spider Prepares To Begin Her Feast, But One Of The Mantises, Freed From The Web, Slips Behind The Spider And Kills Her
50. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Death Throes Of The Spider
51. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: Funeral Of The Mayfly
52. Le festin de l'araignee, Op.17: The Funeral Cotege Sets Off And Disappears Into The Distance. Night Falls On The Deserted Garden.

Amazon.com

These two ballet masterpieces belong with the works of Ravel and Stravinsky at the pinnacle of French dance music from the interwar period. They are very different sounding. The Spider's Feast, as befits an "insect" piece, is a delicate impressionist tone poem painted in musical watercolors. Bacchus, by contrast, is a symphonically constructed epic told in pungent melodies and clear-cut, stamping rhythms. The second half of the ballet, also known as Suite No. 2, has long been popular at orchestral concerts, and builds up to a smashing ending. Yan Pascal Tortelier's performances of both works are the best available, both as interpretations and sound. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Two Great Ballets.......2002-03-06

Bacchus and Ariane (Ariadne), like his Third Symphony, is a late work. Albert Roussel was at the height of his powers when he wrote this ballet for a lavish production at the Paris Opera. It was a gala affair with sets designed by Giorgio de Chirico and choreography by Sergei Lifar.

The story concerns the adventures of Ariadne on the island of Naxos after she fled Crete with the hero Theseus, having outwitted the Minotaur. The ballet is in two acts and is characterized by spiraling melodies of great beauty and energy. The second act was performed as a concert piece and was very popular.

The other work on this disc, The Spider's Feast, is a ballet from 1913. The scene is set in the corner of a garden and depicts the goings on of the insect life. Roussel loved the natural world and his inspiration shows in this work. The insects are meant to represent human emotions with the spider, with an insatiable appetite, done in by his own excesses. The music is very charming and impressionistic in its writing, sounding as if influenced by Debussy.

Yan Pascal Tortelier and the BBC Philharmonic are superb in these pieces. The disc is a good introduction to Roussel's music and has been a favorite of mine for several years.

Average customer rating:

Albert Roussel: Bacchus Et Ariane/ Le Festin De L'araignee Manufacturer: EMI - Angel ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000636KIC

Average customer rating: Splendid performances !

Piano Works Alkan , and Ronald Smith Manufacturer: EMI Classics Imports ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Alkan: Piano Works; Ronald Smith Alkan: Symphony for solo piano Alkan: 12 Études, Op. 39 Alkan: Piano Music, Volume 1: 12 Etudes, Op. 35 ASIN: B00006YX6V Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

1. I: Vingt Ans
2. II: Trente Ans: Quasi-Faust
3. III: Quarante Ans: Un Heureux Menage
4. IV: Cinquante Ans: Promethee Enchaine
5. I: Comme Le Vent (Prestissimamente)
6. II: En Rythme Molossique (Risoluto)
7. III: Scherzo Diabolico (Prestissimo)
8. IV: Le Frestin D'Esope (Allegretto Senza Licenza Quantunque)
9. La Chanson De La Folle Au Bord De La Mer (Preludes, Op.31)
10. Allegro Barbaro (12 Etudes Dans Tous Les Tons Majeurs, Op.35)

Tracks:

1. I: Allegro Vivace
2. II: Allegramente
3. III: Scherzo-Minuetto
4. IV: Tempo Giusto
5. I: Etude Pour La Main Gauche Seule (Fantaisie)
6. II: Etude Pour La Main Droite Seule (Introduction, Variations Et Finale)
7. III: Etude Pour Les Mains Reunies (Mouvement Semblable Et Perpetuel)
8. I: Mouvement De Valse
9. II: Moderato (Quasi Minuetto)
10. III: Prestissimo

Customer Reviews:

Splendid performances !.......2004-07-28

Charels Valentin Alkan (The Berlioz of piano) has been one of the most underapreciated and even unknown composers of the XIX century . Certainly , besides his introspective character and hard temperament , he was a very meticulous composer and made of the piano his prima donna to express a big amount of piano music .
I knew about Alkan in the seventies through the Etudes op. 39 and the scherzo diabolico performed for Michael Ponti .
The Alkan sound in a first impression is extremely weird , but never lacks interest . The melodies are surrounded for mysterious efluvies and inspired moments , and many times the melody is interrupted for fortissimos who move the listener . In many aspects his tonal language demands from you all the possible atention , because it is not easy establish an inmediat rapport .
But , in the other hand there are just a few gifted keyboardist who are capable of playing so difficult score .
The list is very reduced : Raymond Lewenthal , Earl Wild , John Ogdon ,. Mark Hamelin , Ronald Smith , Michael Ponti and Bernard Rigneissen among the most remarkable .
Ronald Smith is a great virtuosi , but also a sensitive performer . He is searching the real intention behind the score and his fingers give the accurate pulse to every piece . When you play Alkan , you must draw the music , due its impresionistic and descriptive character . Due the fact Alkan was a deep thinker and passionate reader , inmersed in spiritual , religious and mythological issues , his music owns this syncretism .
Alkan has been considered as a simple composer of fireworks piano and obviously that 's a mistake . I can accept hat a part of his music can be listed under these terms but not in his majority .
Acquire this CD and make the attempt to get close to this weird music . The challenge runs for you but you will be rewarded .
Fortunately for us , Mark Hamelin one of the top pianists in the world includes Alkan ' s piano music in his personal repertoire . And that 's a good signal .

Average customer rating:

Jascha Horenstein: Broadcast Performances From Paris 1952-1966 Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Bartók, Béla | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Janácek, Leos | ( J ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sinfonia | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music | Cantatas | Romances Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Furtwangler Conducts Brahms - Complete Symphonies, etc / North German RSO, Berlin PO ASIN: B0002K6ZL6 Release Date: 2006-01-01

Tracks:

1. I. Allegramente/Meno Vivo/Andance - A Placere
2. II. Adagio Assai
3. III. Presto
4. 1. Poco Sostenuto/Vivace
5. 2. Allegretto
6. 3. Presto/Assai Meno Presto
7. 4. Allegro Con Brio
8. Le Festin De L'Araignee, Op.17

Tracks:

1. I. (Introduzione) Andante Non Troppo/Tranquillo
2. II. (Giuoco Delle Coppie)Allegretto Scherzando
3. III. (Elegia) Andante, Non Troppo
4. IV. (Intermezzo Interrotto) Allegretto/Calmo
5. IV. (Finale) Pesante/Presto/Tranquillo/Lo Stesso Tempo, Ma Pesante
6. I. Allegro Vivace E Con Brio
7. II. Allegretto Scherzando
8. III. Tempi Di Menuetto
9. IV. Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

1. I. Allegretto/Poco Allegro/Poco Tranquillo/Poco Largamente
2. II. Tempo Andante, Ma Rubato/Molto Largamente/Andante Sostenuto/Andante Con Moto Ed Energico/Allegro/Poco Largamente/Pesante
3. III. Vivacissimo Lento E Suave/Largamente
4. IV. Finale. Allegro Moderato/Moderato Assai/Meno Moderato E Poco A Poco Ravivando Il Tempo
5. Introduction
6. L'oiseau De Feu Et Sa Danse
7. Ronde Des Princesses
8. Danse Infernale Du Roi Kastchei
9. Berceuse
10. Final

Tracks:

1. I. De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer
2. Jeux De Vagues
3. Dialog Du Vent Et De La Mer
4. I.
5. II. Andante
6. III. Con Moto
7. Tod Und Verklarung, Op.24

Tracks:

1. I. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso
2. II. Molto Vivace
3. III. Adagio Molto E Cantabile/Andante Moderato
4. IV. Presto/Allegro Ma Non Troppo/Vivace/Adagio Cantabvile/Allegro/Allegro Moderato/Allegro/Allegro Assai/Presto/Allegro Assai/Allegro Assai Vivace. Alla Marcia/Andante Maestoso/Adagio Ma...
5. Don Giovanni Overture

Tracks:

1. I. Allegro Vivace
2. II. Andante Con Moto
3. III. Con Moto Moderato
4. IV. Saltarello. Presto
5. I. Un Poco Sostenuto/Allegro
6. II. Andante Sostenuto
7. III. Un Poco Allegretto E Grazioso
8. IV. Adagio/Piu Andante/Allegro Ma Non Troppo Ma Con Brio/Piu Allegro

Tracks:

1. I. Adagio Molto/Allegro Con Brio
2. II. Andante Cantabile
3. III. Menuetto And Trio. Allegro Molto E Vivace
4. IV. Adagio/Allegro Molto
5. I. Nun Will Die Sonn' So Hell Aufgeh'n
6. II. Nun Seh' Ich Wohl, Warum So Dunkle Flammen
7. Wenn Dein Mutterlein
8. IV. Oft Denk' Ich, Sie Sind Nur Ausgegangen
9. V. In Diesem Wetter, In Diesem Braus
10. Metamorphosen

Tracks:

1. Egmont Overture, Op.84
2. Bolero
3. I. Allegrtto/Allegro/Maestoso
4. II. Andante/Allegretto/Meno Mosso/Piu Mosso/Maestoso
5. III. Moderato/Con Moto/Piu Mosso/Presstissimo
6. IV. Allegretto/Presto/Adagio/Meno Mosso/Andante/Presto/Prestisimo
7. V. Andante Con Moto/Meno Mosso/Piu Mosso/Maestoso/Allegretto/Allegro/Maestoso/Adagio
8. I. Adagio/Allegro
9. II. Allegretto
10. III. Menuet. Moderato. Trio
11. IV. Finale. Presto

Tracks:

1. Tragic Overture, Op.81
2. I. Allegro
3. II. Andante
4. III. Presto In Moto Perpetuo
5. I. Andante/Poco Piu Mosso/Un Poco Animando/Meno Mosso
6. II. Allegro Marcato/Pochissimo Piu Animato/Piu Mosso/L'istesso Tempo
7. III. Adagio/Poco Piu Animato
8. IV. Allegro Giocosso/Poco Piu Tranquillo

Average customer rating: A Great Roussel Collection

Roussel: Festin de l'araignée Op17; Bacchus et Ariane Op43 Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sinfonia | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000J7OU Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

1. Le Festin de l'Araignee, Pantomime Ballet Op. 17 - The Spider's Feast: Part One, Prelude - Various Artists
2. Le Festin de l'Araignee, Pantomime Ballet Op. 17 - The Spider's Feast: Part Two, - Various Artists
3. Sinfonietta For String Orchestra Op. 52: Allegro molto - Various Artists
4. Sinfonietta For String Orchestra Op. 52: Andante - Allegro - Various Artists
5. Bacchus et Ariane, Ballet In Two Acts Op. 43: Act I - Various Artists
6. Bacchus et Ariane, Ballet In Two Acts Op. 43: Act II - Various Artists

Tracks:

1. Pour une Fete de printemps Op. 22 - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
2. Petite Suite Op. 39: Aubade - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
3. Petite Suite Op. 39: Pastorale - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
4. Petite Suite Op. 39: Mascarade - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
5. Suite In F (F-dur - fa majeur) Op. 33: Prelude - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
6. Suite In F (F-dur - fa majeur) Op. 33: Sarabande - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
7. Suite In F (F-dur - fa majeur) Op. 33: Gigue - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.
8. Aenas, Ballet In One Act Op. 54: Aeneas, Ballet In One Act Op. 54 - Orchestre National De L'O.R.T.F.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Roussel Collection.......2007-04-06

This two-disc collection of the music of Albert Roussel has been released on other CDs (I had the Dutoit disc). These are marvelous performances of Roussel's music. The first piece - Le festin de l'Araignee (or the Spider's Feast) - was composed in 1912. It is an example of Roussel's music that describes nature that he became known for and earned him the label of an "Impressionist." The ballet consists of a series of scenes having to do with insect life in a garden with the spider as the main focus of attention. One by one, insects are trapped in the spider's web, and the spider performs a dance when he captures each victim. However, alas for the spider, he falls prey to a mantis. The ballet was a brilliant success and contains some beautiful music evoking the garden and the creatures that inhabit it.

The Sinfonietta is a pleasant short work for string orchestra, cast in two movements. It was composed in 1934 and has no stated program but seems to have been inspired by French Baroque dances. The ballet Bacchus et Ariane (1930) is among Roussel's masterpieces and for a time vied in popularity with Maurice Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe. The ballet, composed in 1930, is in two acts and is characterized by ravishing melodies and an imaginative use of brass and percussion. The story of the ballet comes from the ancient story of Ariadne, who is left on the island of Naxos, asleep, by Theseus on the voyage home to Athens from Crete after the slaying of the Minotaur. In the second act, Ariadne is desperate over her plight and attempts suicide when she is rescued by Bacchus, who falls in love with her. The ballet ends with a thrilling Bacchanale as the god crowns Ariadne with stars. This performance of the ballet by Charles Dutoit and the Orchestre de Paris is among the best and remains my favorite for the dynamic quality of the performance.

The second disc begins with three shorter works: Pour en Fete de printemps (1920), the Petite Suite (1929) and Suite en Fa (1926). Pour en Fete de printemps has an air of mystery: a slow introduction gives way to a dance that becomes more energetic as the music progresses. Then, the music slows becoming more reflective before the tempo quickens and the music slowly dies away. The Petite Suite is in three short movements and is Roussel at his most playful and engaging. The movements are fast, slow Pastorale, followed by a fast and stately Mascarade. The Suite en Fa is based on French baroque dances and consists of a Prelude, Sarabande and Gigue. It is a lively suite that is pure Roussel with inventive harmonies and bracing rhythms. The ballet Aeneas (1935) is about 40 minutes long and makes use of a chorus with a large orchestra, and is about the trials that the Sybil orders the Trojan hero to perform. The hero must face solitude and Dido figures as the main temptation and her dance is scored with a solo viola. The chorus has a major role in the ballet and the music is more astringent and reflective than Roussel's previous ballets but contains some remarkable melodies, among them the warrior's dance that concludes the Prelude. Aeneas has not been a popular ballet which is perhaps due to its theme of the renunciation of earthly pleasures.

Both discs are well-filled with over 75 minutes of music. The performances, conducted buy Jean Martinon, Charles Dutoit and Jean-Francis Paillard, are excellent and well-recorded although the sound for Pour en Fete de printemps is a bit dry. This is a must-have disc for anyone interested in Albert Roussel's music.

Average customer rating:

Roussel: Symphony No. 3; Bacchus et Ariane; Le Festin de l'araignée Manufacturer: Supraphon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00008FTZY Release Date: 1994-09-20

Rock Music:

1. Let It Die
2. Live at CBGB's [Live]
3. Long Live Rock N Roll [Limited Edition] [Import]
4. Love Overdub
5. Love Will Tear Us Apart [Import]
6. Made in England
7. Manic Monday [Import]
8. Mxpx Lost in Japan [Import]
9. New Orleans Senior Prom
10. Nice 'n' Greasy

Rock Music