Jack Gibbons plays Alkan Concerto 3rd movement

Jack Gibbons plays the third movement of Alkan's Concerto for solo piano.
The monumental Concerto for Solo Piano makes up Etudes 8-10 of Charles-Valentin Alkan's 'Douze Etudes dans les Tons Mineurs' (Twelve Studies in the Minor Keys), Alkan's magnum opus, published in 1857. The Concerto for solo piano has been described as a musical epic and as one of the most original works of its century, and contains some of Alkans finest and most haunting music. As the title of the work suggests, Alkan recreates the massive and contrasting sounds of both piano and orchestra through just one pair of hands. The exuberant finale, with its kaleidoscope of moods, Eastern flavour, and exhilarating peroration, rounds off this massive work to perfection.
Jack Gibbons made his London debut in 1979, at the age of 17, performing the Alkan Concerto for solo piano. A year earlier, at the age of 16, he had given only the second ever performance in history of the complete Concerto (Ronald Smith gave the first ever complete performance of the work the previous year, 1977). In 1995 Jack Gibbons became the first pianist to perform the entire three and a half hour 'Douze Etudes dans les Tons Mineurs' of Alkan in a single concert.
For more information on Jack Gibbons visit www.jackgibbons...
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[@cassander1376]

I'm so grateful that musicians like Jack Gibbons invest the time and effort to render Alkan's phantasmagorias accessible to the mortal public. High profile virtuosos such as Kissin and Pollini seem to have no interest in this wonderful oeuvre. Mr Gibbons takes the fully deserved applause with a modest shrug; he comes across as genial and well-balanced. Just wonder if engagement with such obsessive, technically taxing and gangantuan repertory is really good for one's mental health. Was it in part at least the cause or effect of the torments that afflicted say Raymond Lewenthal, John Ogdon and Alkan himself?

[@Professor694]

Большое спасибо за подробный разбор данного феномена

[@opus_archive]

8:58 Gibbon's performance of the con brio is the greatest performance of this passage ever recorded. Nobody, aside from Ogdon and Gibbons himself, had been able to balance the right hand dexterity whilst voicing the octaves in the left hand. The voicing! Aside from maybe one instance, you can clearly hear each and every note of the counter melody that the left hand's creating. Hamelin, Nosrati, Wee, Smith, Maltempo, and countless others... no one has come even close. Technically competent, bringing out overlooked details, all while maintaining the energy, Gibbons truly owns this passage.

[@andibonnington]

I loved his face at the end... like saying "This is what I can play, all that I can give, did you liked it?, Sorry guys!. Amazing pianist, one of the best nowadays.

[@viggos.n.5864]

This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Humanity at it's peak.

[@BryanHo]

Still not sure what's more impressive, that Alkan could even conceive such piece or that a pianist exists like Maestro Gibbons could not just perform it but play it with such impeccable technique and artistry.

[@emilyhutjes]

The Prodigy Charles V. Alkan, thank you Jack for performing this, you modestly smiling genius ! (Febr. 2023)

[@MrYoutooblol]

that shrug at the end LMAO

[@luableah7615]

It said, "No sweat." 😂

[@thenotsogoodpianist4706]

his face at the end is like a cherry on the cake ,,, loved that reaction ,,,, insane virtuous playing of this mammoth like work of alkan

[@jczcameron]

The pause on that last arpeggiation before the final glissando is just perfect in length!

[@sharond1710]

Gibbons' hands are performing the death-defying acrobatics! What a feat and we are fortunate to watch/listen this performance.

[@GregLile]

I was lucky to have been there that night. Great to see the video as a 'postcard' of sorts.

[@Yubin_Lee_Doramelin]

Don't compare between Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Hamelin: both are equally awesome!

[@Hydrokurica]

no, Hamelin is better

[@viggos.n.5864]

Aren't you comparing them by saying they're equally awesome?

[@ifmondayhadaface9490]

niqmaster Hamelin’s playing is more technically sound, but Gibbon’s interpretation is better.

[@Montu-pc5gp]

Thia interpretation of this peace is different from Hamelin

[@yorkzie7593]

I agree this is a good reminder for people to not make comments have 90+ replies

[@jakehouston3377]

Im sorry, but I CANT BELIEVE how amazing you are! No exaggeration one of the best to have walked this planet! HUGE CONGRATS!

[@wmft6059]

Impressionnant ! Alkan dépasse même Liszt en terme de virtuosité, qui l'aurait cru ?! Magnifique. C'est une fierté nationale ce cher Charles-Valentin. La France lui doit beaucoup. Merci encore M. Alkan pour votre œuvre époustouflante !

[@erbol8116]

Lizst a reconnu qu'Alkan était un pianiste avec plus de technicité que lui. C'est aussi le seul pianiste dont il a peur de jouer devant lui. Alkan a une technique monstrueuse mais il n'est malheureusement pas connu parce qu'il était timide et préférait joué ses morceaux seuls chez lui.

[@elmis4813]

@@erbol8116 Pour être plus exact, Liszt a dit qu'Alkan avait la meilleure technique qu'il lui avait été donné de voir. Alkan n'a pas quitté la vie culturelle et musicale de Paris de par timidité (comme l'a fait Chopin) mais plutôt car il manifestait une forme de misanthropie. Pour preuve il n'eut aucun mal à remonter au devant de la scène en 1844, puis en 1857 à la publication de l'opus 39 et enfin en 1873 ou il débute des séries de petits concerts. Mais cela n'aura pas suffit à combler le retrait public que caractérisera une bonne partie de sa vie, et le fera peu à peu oublier... Au point qu'un journal titra à sa mort "qui est Alkan?", alors qu'au début de sa vie musicale il était réputé le meilleur pianiste de Paris (premier prix de piano du conservatoire à 11 ans du jamais vu) "Berlioz du piano" selon une expression de Schumann (en 1838) qui sera reprise par von Bülow et Sorabji... Et c'est en effet bien dommage. Mais aujourd'hui il gagne en reconnaissance c'est une bonne chose!

[@MusicFloto]

What an extraordinary, nonchalant performance. Alkan is like a trapeze artist who is catching a butterfly while negotiating space and gravity and listening to Alkan is like leaving the earth and catching a glimpse of it from the furthest reaches of space.

[@iainstannard1757]

This is one of those pieces you hear recorded in the studio - which of course includes Mr Gibbons’ own studio recording for ASV - and think … yeah, but who could play something so blisteringly difficult live? Well, here it is. Presumably this was after the also monstrous thirty minute first movement and palate-cleansingly non-impossible (but still difficult) slow movement. I don’t know what the audience paid for their tickets but it was the best money they ever spent.

[@Kirb-n4r]

Absolutly Alkan specialist i love this play

[@brianandrewleahy1]

after toying around with the idea of learning parts of the Concerto for 17 years i have been practicing it daily especially this movement and have reached what i would term, "the point of no return". I think i got slightly delusional in that short interim period when this performance was taken down. Now i watch this again with the same fervor, but think, "Brian why do you do this to yourself?" It is such a staggering conception though and other music suddenly becomes easier after working onthis

[@Yubin_Lee_Doramelin]

There are two great performance of this piece: one is Hamelin's, and the other is *THIS!!* I think his rather slow performance is *not* because of his deficiency of technique, but because of *another interpretation of this piece, differ from Hamelin's!* He is an another master of Alkan!

[@necpmf]

Personally I think Gibbons' Alkan blows Hamelin's away, and I say that as someone who considers Hamelin among the greatest to ever play the instrument.

[@cme1447]

necpmf yes because Hamelin plays very intellectually.. gibbons plays more emotionally.. you feel Alkans fire more

[@dheu]

@@cme1447 Exactly. There is more passion and emotion in Gibbons' version. Hamelin is a very virtuosic player and his version is fine, but I didn't understand this piece until I heard Gibbons play it. This is always my standard for Alkan's Concerto now.

[@zackebrorsson9374]

Have you listen to john ogdon's performance of this pice?

[@dorfmanjones]

@@zackebrorsson9374 Ogdon's performance is superior to this. More colors, a real pianissimmo, and more overall dynamic range.

[@VaradiAbel]

You are the greatest pianist!

[@davidconjefferson]

Absolutely astounding. You sir, have a fan in me.

[@paolohudson]

You're right it must have been quite a treat, I had the unbelievable opportunity to see Hamelin perform this several years ago, along with the Chopin Sonata in B flat minor and Berg Sonata. Very different kind of style to Gibbons, impressive on a completely different level, and after that Coda the audience just erupted!

[@LuisKolodin]

this is enjoyable Alkan! There are super virtuosos that play Alkan in a not enjoyable, not even musical performance of these masterpieces. This is so annoying when it happens... there are so many things that make music exciting, thrilling... is not only about speed. Gibbons is incredibly thriling at the end of exposition and the coda. this is a musicianship!

[@richardhankins]

Absolutely fabulous!!!

[@pianodudeler]

Wonderful performance by a great pianist - I first heard him play in the SIPCA where he played brilliantly despite a back injury.

[@NormanicusDiabolicus]

Mr. Gibbons plays this wonderful work with such great aplomb. He is not only a teriffic virtuoso but plays with such musicality as revealed in this complex work.

[@샤를-발랑탱-알캉]

I love this video

[@yinonavraham7985]

Thank you so much for this absolutely amazing perfomance!

[@gertchristensen5661]

This is huge. This is awesome! ! !

[@prammar1951]

Alkan's masterpiece

[@ZigfilVorzh]

Maravillosa ejecución Mr. Gibbons, eres grande!

[@ReturnOfTheStienway]

Getting to hear this on CD was pretty amazing... but the video is even better!

[@armonici]

Alkan and you are both geniuses!!

[@kassandragauthier5199]

By all meansd,I a m speechless!!BRAVOOOOOOO!!!

[@velvetpaws999]

Wow! How can you make it look so easy, lol.... I get dizzy just watching your hands! Bravo, bravissimo!

[@samwoodworth3424]

Absolutely stunning performance, technically and musically, right up there with Ogdon (and better in places).

[@monobrow638]

I love his shrug at the end xD cracks me up every time!

[@caxton715]

I really enjoy the way you play this epic piece!

[@Valheurbia]

My hands and arms got swollen just by watching him.

[@alwatsonpianist]

Sheer magic. Bravissississimo!!!

[@marcelospineli2391]

Bravo!

[@scriabinish]

I completely agree. I am about a 1/3 of the way the first movement of this concerto, and 'completed' the 2nd mvmt some time ago...and suddenly every thing is easier. Even if I don't ever prepare this to the point were I can perform it, it will invariably push my technique to that next, titantic level. I hope. :)

[@Prometeur]

BRAVOOOO!!!!!

[@PrayingEagle]

You're amazing.

[@Davideberti]

Oh my God...and.. not One wrong note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@morganmartinez8420]

I love the face he did at the end, it was like "eh, I could have done better than this!" 😂

[@prammar1951]

Well, he played this piece when he was 16! He knows this piece like the back of his hand. A true monster

[@p1anosteve]

He always does that! Like the true artist he never seems happy with his performance.

[@chezbe]

Can you record "Le chemin de fer" by Alkan?)

[@backwardsboom]

L'instant entre 2:27 and 2:39 m'émeut tellement

[@chidlers99]

You're watching the 8th wonder of the world. It would be interesting to compare a plaster cast of Alkan's hands to Jack's hands.

[@88alan8800]

gotta love those pedal points around 8:00

[@tallisrocktube]

read somewhere that Chopin and Alkan lived a few doors away from each other in Paris

[@idrisalmamri6612]

Yeah, they were close friends, chopin even invited alkan to dinner and small parties

[@currawong2011]

Great stuff. Mr Hamelin, watch this and take some lessons.;

[@melonica90]

07:27

[@jakehouston3377]

Just me or is 7:!4 and the following section something audiences in his time would've literally dropped their jaw at?!

[@charlesvalkan252]

7:14 is a wonderful section.

[@sanjosemike3137]

Of course this is monstrously difficult. But Jack does not "milk" the difficulty for technique, which he has in spades, but rather tries to bring out melody. He does not overdo sostenuto pedal. I didn't know about him until recently. THAT was my loss. He is an amazing musician. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)

[@yorkzie7593]

How the hell does this have less than a million views

[@petraem8819]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@MooPotPie]

Don't try this at home, kids . . .

[@n2g747]

no they CANT even try this

[@lczq6737]

Already did I failed couldn't even get past the first page

[@LeventK]

Noo i was gonna try it you ruined it!!!

[@MrMauroLoca]

Do you mean that the 8th wonder of the world is Jack's hands? i agree!

[@ilyapushkov2386]

This is a butuful music

[@AdmirableSmithy]

O_O

[@babygirl4169]

8:07 / 9:26

[@Jandy_grass]

헉.....ㄷㄷ.... 너무 쉽게 치는거 아닌가요...?

[@PieInTheSky9]

I don't know why, but somehow I feel like this is how Alkan would have performed it.

[@Pladask]

@monobrow638 Haha, me too. :D I wonder what it means.

[@duck_fx]

Is the piano ok?

[@LeventK]

Lol no

[@NBUU1]

8:43

[@charles-valentinalkan5681]

:( this is unplayable

[@Giusepperinaldo]

Charles- Valentin Alkan I agree

[@charlesvalkan252]

@@Giusepperinaldo. It's totally playable.

[@fishingtrio7823]

@@charlesvalkan252 it is playable, but only for Jack

[@charlesvalkan252]

@@fishingtrio7823 and me.

[@fishingtrio7823]

@@charlesvalkan252Yes, but I don' know who is original Charles V Alkan or Charles- Valentin Alkan

[@herobrine1847]

9:05 triple sharp

[@jakehouston3377]

Rumours have it that Alkan requested for his close friend, Chopin, to play this very piece, however Chopin ended up not playing it, and idk why

[@JackGibbonsHQ]

Actually that would be impossible as this piece was written after Chopin's death, and published in 1857. Perhaps you're thinking of Alkan's 2 piano 8-hand arrangement of the 2nd and 4th movements from Beethoven's 7th symphony? Though Chopin played this arrangement of Alkan's (along with Alkan, Gutmann and Zimmerman) at the Salle Pape in Paris on 3 March 1838 he turned down a request from Alkan to repeat the performance at a concert at the Salle Erard on 1 March 1843.

[@jakehouston3377]

Jack Gibbons didn’t no pretty much any of that myself, but thanks alot for letting me know, Alkan really is a fascinating Composer, not just to learn his music, but what his past teaches us, and his life really is a fascinating story. ps. you replies at the exact time i returned to listen lol

[@kanazo]

1 person does not understand Alkan

[@NBUU1]

8:45

[@NBUU1]

0:16