Liszt: The Great Piano Works

Liszt: The Great Piano Works
Composer Franz Liszt
Artist Various artists
Format 15 CD
Cat. number 95564
EAN code 5028421955643
Release September 2017

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About this release

Franz Liszt is universally celebrated as one of the greatest-ever virtuoso performers on the modern piano. Contemporary accounts describe his seemingly superhuman technical abilities and equally striking charisma and stage presence. Yet Liszt was a formidable composer, and his expansion of pianistic possibilities was achieved as much through innovation in his own great piano works as through his astonishing performance on the instrument, if not more. Like many child virtuosos thrust early into busy concert careers (Liszt’s began at the age of nine) he retired early, weary of the spotlight, turning his back on the stage at the remarkably early age of 35. Since he lived to the likewise remarkable old age of 75, much more than the latter half of his life was devoted solely to composition, and having been a pianist of his calibre, the works he created for his own instrument were indeed groundbreaking.

Showcasing the demanding pieces in this set – from the thundering of Liszt’s virtuoso side to the mysticism of his deeply spiritual side – are 15 renowned pianists on recordings dating from 1994–2016. Liszt’s piano works may be divided into several diverse categories. These include the virtuoso showpieces based on themes from operas (Isoldens Liebestod Alexander Gavrylyuk, Wagner Transcriptions François Dumont, Bellini and Donizetti Transcriptions Mark Viner, Verdi and Beethoven Transcriptions Michele Campanella); religious-inspired or devotional works (Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude and 2 Légendes Irene Russo) the spare, enigmatic pieces from his last years (Trübe Wolken, En rêve, Bagatelle sans tonalité Philipp Kopachevsky and La lugubre gondola Misha Dacić); a ground-breaking sonata regarded as an iconic work of the repertoire (Sonata in B minor Philipp Kopachevsky); and numerous piano transcriptions of other composers’ non-operatic works (Grandes études de Paganini Goran Filipec, Beethoven Symphony No.6 in F Op.68 ‘Pastorale’ Michele Campanella). The set concludes with a grand gesture, as Nelson Freire is joined by the Dresdner Philharmonie under Michel Plasson for Liszt’s two well-loved piano concertos.

Franz Liszt was without doubt one of the greatest (if not The Greatest) pianists of all time, as well as an innovating and visionary composer, in one word…a Genius!
This set presents an extensive survey of Liszt’s piano works, grand scale or intimate, thundering or tender, passionate or devout. In these works we find all Liszt’s pianistic innovations, feats of jaw dropping virtuosity, unheard-of sonorities and future-looking asceticism.
All genres of his pianistic output are present: original works like the complete Hungarian Rhapsodies, the Complete Studies, Années de Pèlerinage, Ballades, Polonaises, Mephisto Waltzes and the immortal Sonata, Opera Paraphrases and Fantasies, Beethoven Symphony transcriptions and the Piano Concertos and Totentanz.
Performed by an extraordinary line up of present day pianists: Enrico Pace, Vincenzo Maltempo, Nelson Freire, and many more.

Recorded between 1994 and 2016.
This set comes with new liner notes written by Philip Borg-Wheeler.

Listening

Track list

Disk 1

  1. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 1 in C-Sharp Minor, S.244/1
  2. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, S.244/2
  3. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 3 in B-Flat Minor, S.244/3
  4. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 4 in E-Flat Major
  5. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 5 in E Minor, S.244/5
  6. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 6 in D-Flat Major, S.244/6
  7. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 7 in D Minor, S.244/7
  8. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 8 in F-Sharp Minor, S.244/8
  9. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 9 in E-Flat Major, S.244/9

Disk 2

  1. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 10 in E Major, S.244/10
  2. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 11 in A Minor, S.244/11
  3. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 12 in C-Sharp Minor, S.244/12
  4. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 13 in A Minor, S.244/13
  5. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 14 in F Minor, S.244/14
  6. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 15 in A Minor, S.244/15
  7. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 16 in A Minor, S.244/16
  8. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 17 in D Minor, S.244/17
  9. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 18 in F-Sharp Minor, S.244/18
  10. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 19 in D Minor, Ss.244/19

Disk 3

  1. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: I. Chapelle de Guillaume Tell
  2. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: II. Au lac de Wallenstadt
  3. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: III. Pastorale
  4. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: IV. Au bord d'une source
  5. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: V. Orage
  6. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: VI. Vallée d'Obermann
  7. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: VII. Eglogue
  8. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: VIII. Le mal du pays
  9. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage I, S.160: IX. Les cloches de Genève

Disk 4

  1. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: I. Sposalizio
  2. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: II. Il penseroso
  3. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: III. Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa
  4. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: IV. Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
  5. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: V. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
  6. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: VI. Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
  7. Franz Liszt: Années de pèlerinage II, S.161: VII. Après une lecture du Dante

Disk 5

  1. Franz Liszt: Piano Sonata in B Minor, S.178
  2. Franz Liszt: Soirées de Vienne, S.427: VI. Allegro con strepito in A Minor
  3. Franz Liszt: En rêve, S.207
  4. Franz Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 3, S.216
  5. Franz Liszt: Bagatelle sans tonalité, S.216a
  6. Franz Liszt: Trübe Wolken, S.199

Disk 6

  1. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: I. Preludio
  2. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: II. Molto Vivace
  3. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: III. Paysage
  4. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: IV. Mazeppa
  5. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: V. Feux-follets
  6. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: VI. Vision
  7. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: VII. Eroica
  8. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: VIII. Wilde Jagd
  9. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: IX. Ricordanza
  10. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: X. Allegro agitato molto
  11. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: XI. Harmonies du soir
  12. Franz Liszt: Études d’exécution transcendante, S.139: XII. Chasse-neige

Disk 7

  1. Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S.141: I. Preludio – Etude. Non troppo lento in G Minor
  2. Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S.141: II. Andante in E-Flat Major
  3. Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S.141: III. Allegretto in G-Sharp Minor
  4. Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S.141: IV. Vivo in E Major
  5. Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S.141: V. Allegretto in E Major
  6. Franz Liszt: Grandes études de Paganini, S.141: VI. Quasi presto in A Minor
  7. Franz Liszt: 2 Polonaises, S.223: I. Polonaise mélancolique in C Minor
  8. Franz Liszt: 2 Polonaises, S.223: II. Polonaise in E Major
  9. Franz Liszt: Ballade No. 1 in D-Flat Major, S.170
  10. Franz Liszt: Ballade No. 2 in B Minor, S.171

Disk 8

  1. Franz Liszt: Consolation No. 3 in D-Flat Major, S.172/3
  2. Franz Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514
  3. Franz Liszt: Isoldens Liebestod, S.447
  4. Franz Liszt: Danse macabre, S.555
  5. Franz Liszt: Tarantella, S.162/3
  6. Franz Liszt: 2 Konzertetüden, S.145: I. Waldesrauschen
  7. Franz Liszt: 2 Konzertetüden, S.145: II. Gnomenreigen
  8. Franz Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3 in A-Flat Major, S.541/3
  9. Franz Liszt: Les jeux d’eaux à la villa d’este, S.163/4

Disk 9

  1. Franz Liszt: Fantasie und Fuge über das Thema B–A–C–H, S.529
  2. Franz Liszt: Les cloches de Genève, S.160/9
  3. Franz Liszt: Grosses Konzertsolo S.176
  4. Franz Liszt: Glandes de Woronince, S.249: I. Ballade d’Ukraïne
  5. Franz Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante, S.161/7
  6. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9, S.244/9
  7. Franz Liszt: La lugubre gondola, S.200/1

Disk 10

  1. Franz Liszt: Harmonies poétiques et religieuses III, S.173: III. Bénédiction de dieu dans la solitude
  2. Franz Liszt: 2 Légendes, S.175: I. St François d’Assise. La prédication aux oiseaux
  3. Franz Liszt: 2 Légendes, S.175: II. St François de Paule. Marchant sur les flots
  4. Franz Liszt: Valse-Impromptu, S.213
  5. Franz Liszt: Études de concert, S.144: II. La leggierezza
  6. Franz Liszt: Grand galop chromatique, S.219
  7. Franz Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole, S.254

Disk 11

  1. Franz Liszt: O du mein holder Abendstern, S.444
  2. Franz Liszt: Ballade from der fliegende Holländer, S.441
  3. Franz Liszt: Aus Lohengrin, S.446: II. Elsas Traum
  4. Franz Liszt: Ouvertüre from Tannhäuser, S.442
  5. Franz Liszt: Feierlicher Marsch zum heiligen Gral from Parsifal, S.450
  6. Franz Liszt: Aus Lohengrin, S.446: III. Lohengrins Verweis an Elsa
  7. Franz Liszt: Walhall from Der Ring des Nibelungen, S.449
  8. Franz Liszt: 2 Stücke aus Tannhäuser und Lohengrin, S.445: II. Elsas Brautzug zum Münster
  9. Franz Liszt: Isoldens Liebestod, S.447

Disk 12

  1. Franz Liszt: Marche funèbre de Dom Sébastien de Donizetti, S.402
  2. Franz Liszt: Réminiscences de Lucrezia Borgia, S.400: I. Trio du seconde acte
  3. Franz Liszt: Réminiscences de Lucrezia Borgia, S.400: II. Chanson à boire – Duo – Finale
  4. Franz Liszt: Réminiscences de Norma, S.394
  5. Franz Liszt: Hexaméron, S.392

Disk 13

  1. Franz Liszt: Paraphrase de concert on Ernani II, S.432
  2. Franz Liszt: Salve Maria de Jérusalem S.431/2
  3. Franz Liszt: Miserere from Il trovatore S.433
  4. Franz Liszt: Paraphrase de concert on Rigoletto, S.434
  5. Franz Liszt: Finale from Don Carlos, S.435
  6. Franz Liszt: Agnus dei from Verdi’s requiem, S.437/2
  7. Franz Liszt: Réminiscences de Boccanegra, S.438
  8. Franz Liszt: Danza sacra e duetto finale from Aida, S.436

Disk 14

  1. Franz Liszt: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, S.464/6: I. Allegro ma non troppo
  2. Franz Liszt: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, S.464/6: II. Andante molto moto
  3. Franz Liszt: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, S.464/6: III. Allegro
  4. Franz Liszt: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, S.464/6: IV. Allegro - V. Allegretto

Disk 15

  1. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S.124: I. Allegro
  2. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S.124: II. Quasi adagio
  3. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S.124: III. Allegretto vivace
  4. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S.124: IV. Allegro animato
  5. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S.124: V. Allegro marziale animato
  6. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S.125: I. Adagio sostenuto assai
  7. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S.125: II. Allegro agitato assai
  8. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S.125: III. Allegro moderato
  9. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S.125: IV. Allegro deciso, sempre allegro
  10. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S.125: V. Marziale, un poco meno allegro
  11. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S.125: VI. Allegro animato
  12. Franz Liszt: Totentanz S126/2