CHARLES-VALENTIN ALKAN (1813-1888): Complete "Recueils de Chants", Vol. 2 - Quatrième Recueil, Op. 67, Cinquième Recueil, Op. 70, 2 Nocturnes, Op. 57, 2 Petites Pièces, Op. 60, Désire.Fantasie, Chapeau bas! Seconda Fantasticheria.

Description: he last two collections of pieces modelled obsessively on Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, Op. 19b yet containing the usual kaleidoscopic variety of individualistic traits Alkan is known for. The 48 minutes of Chants are supplemented by another 31 minutes of rare Alkan including the First Recording of the eight-minute Chapeau bas! of 1872, a virtuoso octave study whose form, key and date of composition suggest it may have originally intended for the fifth place in the Op. 70 Recueil de Chants. Stephanie McCallum (piano).