Favorite Alkan interpreter?

[liszt-and-the-galops]

What's everyone's favorite Alkan interpreter?

IMO Gibbons is the best, with Maltempo being a close second.

[perfect_pitch]

Heard Gibbons play a lot of Alkan so he's no. 1 in my books.
Only heard Maltempo & Hamelin play the Le Festin d'Escope, but Hamelin easily bested Maltempo in that piece. Maltempo struggled to maintain the tempo in the piece with the squigly demisemiquavers and the semiquavers in the LH; HOWEVER I did watch a video of him playing all 12 Etudes in concert, so I have to admit - that's one HELL of an endurance challenge.

Hamelin however played the piece without breaking a sweat.

I've heard John Ogdon play piano, but not Alkan.

[lisztoholic]

For me it has to be Ronald Smith. He beats all the others easily and I have had the privilege of meeting him in person many years ago at a recital. It was such a hot, summer day that after his first piece he turned to the audience and said "does anyone mind if I take my jacket off?" and of course nobody did. He also took his bow tie off and opened his shirt collar. One of the most brilliant and entertaining pianists I have ever met. Not stuck up and stand-offish like so many others. He loved engaging with the audience.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

In a reply to the post that (by the time you're reading this) will probably be removed that asked:

Are there specific projects where you've found Maltempo particularly useful? tiny spam hyperlink has been removed

IMO his performances of some of the faster pieces (Comme le Vent and 76/3 in particular) are his best. His 39/2 "En Rythme Molossique" is also the only version of it I've properly listened to, but it's really good as far as Alkan goes (which is saying something).
Writing that last sentence made me realize that I need to listen to more interpretations of 39/2, 39/11, and the Major Key Etudes (op. 35).