CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN (1813-1888): 8 Prières (from 13 Prières for Organ, Op. 64), 9 Préludes for Piano Four Hands (from 11 Grands Préludes et 1 Transcription du Messie de Hændel for Pedal Piano, Op. 66), Benedictus for 2 Pianos (from Benedictus for Pedal Piano or Piano Three Hands, Op. 64) (all transcr. José Vianna da Motta [1868-1948]).

Description: These transcriptions of original pedal-piano music from Alkan's late years bring us intensely personal music in which questions of mortality and eternity are struggled with in music which ranges from the simple and devotional to the heights of exaltation (the closing Adagio of Op. 66 is positively Brucknerian) and, of course, often requiring outsized technical qualities from the performer(s). Vincenzo Maltempo (piano), Emanuele Dellucchi (piano secondo).