CHARLES-HENRI ALKAN: 25 MINIATURES. Ronald Smith, piano....

CHARLES-HENRI ALKAN: 25 MINIATURES. Ronald Smith, piano. Arabesque Digital Z6523. These short piano works, though a century old, will be new to most listeners. Their performer, Ronald Smith, describes them as works of “hidden genius” on a par with Chopin and even Bach. The comparison is unfortunate. The pieces are bright in both melody and color, yet in form and design they are common. Phrases often repeat without building. Though Smith plays well, only one piece, “Delire,” grows from its outset to a satisfying end.