Charles-Valentin Alkan
Charles-Valentin Alkan—a French composer and virtuoso pianist—was active during the Romantic period alongside renowned musicians Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt. At the height of his fame in the 1830s and 1840s, Alkan was one of the leading pianists in Paris. Notable among his works are his collections of large-scale studies in all major and minor keys including the Symphony for Solo Piano and Concerto for Solo Piano, which showcase his mastery of both musical and technical complexities. Alkan's incorporation of Jewish melodies in art music was pioneering for his time. Despite being initially neglected, his music has experienced a resurgence in recent decades thanks to the efforts of pianists such as Raymond Lewenthal and Ronald Smith.
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