This recording has remained a firm favourite since I discovered it back in the 70's. Time simply hasn't dimmed the visceral power of the playing, and Lewenthal's power at climactic points (e.g. listen to 'Quasi-Faust) is exhilerating - in the animal-descriptive 'Le Festin d'Aesop' he at one point creates the musical equivalent of a stampede. Some in recent times have claimed a preference for Hamelin - often citing the greater abundance of keyboard colour he has at his disposal. Fabulous as his playing of this music is (and I'd recommend the Concerto for Solo to anyone) I can't help the feeling that Lewenthal's steely approach better suits much of this music, echoing what many said of Alkan's own unbending character.