Liszt: The Complete Etudes | Franz Liszt, Claudio Arrau, ...

Liszt: The Complete Etudes | Franz Liszt, Claudio Arrau, ... | THE ONE LISZT PIANO DISC TO OWN

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	Liszt: The Complete Etudes Franz Liszt, Claudio Arrau, ... Philips, 1997 average customer review:based on 16 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

No, these aren't really the "complete" Liszt études. The centerpiece to this collection is Claudio Arrau's Transcendental Études, recorded when the pianist was in his early seventies. He brings out the music's breadth and poetry by way of ample rubatos, a rainbow of color, and total avoidance of anything mechanical for its own sake. Conversely, Nikita Magaloff's light-fingered proficiency in the Paganini Études seems rather dry and workaday in comparison. --Jed Distler

Do noy know enough english...

I live in South America and my english is not good enough to review. Lizt is my favorite piano composer and have enjoyed every minute of this wonderful CD

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THE ONE LISZT PIANO DISC TO OWN

If you have room in your collection for only one recording of Liszt's
solo piano works (and shame on you for that!), this should certainly be it. Arrau's work is simply magnificent -- a glittering, glistening display of brilliance, accompanied by a depth of feeling, an overwhelming heft, that makes it unique. And Magaloff (of whom, I am ashamed to say, I have not heard before)gives the Paganini transcriptions a crisp and technically superb reading, perhaps without the heft that Arrau is able to convey but still formidable. All in all, this is simply a disc for the ages.

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Is a Lisztian Étude a study?

No, of course not. Far from being mere exercises designed to improve one's skills on the piano, Liszt's Études are music in and by themselves.

When they took their first form in 1838, the Paganini Études were pretty much devices for helping the pianist to exceed his own limits as a virtuoso and refine his technique. As Liszt matured as a composer and musician, however, he revised his Études aiming not only at making them sound more musical, but also at rendering them more economical in terms of expression. That's why they stood so well the test of time and sound to our modern/postmodern ears much more daring and original than most of what's been composed after his death. Arrau and Magaloff succeed in presenting the Études as complex, beautiful and exhilarating pieces of music - that's the main reason why this recording should be one of the first recommendations for those who are interested in Liszt's music as an art form rather than a series of pointless tricks and acrobatics on the piano.

One of the highlights is undoubtedly Magaloff's blistering performance of La Campanella. In his hands, the piece is not so much a spiritless exercise in virtuosity resembling the ringing of a bell as a desperate, wild and raging cry for help in a shattering world. As you listen to the music you can almost visualize the world being torn apart. Quite impressive. Pure romanticism, yes, but the most appropriate version of this piece for a 21th century listener.

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So far, so good

I'll explain. I only received disc 2 from Amazon. The 3 concert etudes (S.144) and 2 of (S.145) are top notch. Not only are they played masterfully by Arrau, but the sound is excellent for its age. I loved the Paganini etudes by Magaloff. I had never heard this artist before. However, in the place of disc 1, I received a disc labeled " DAVID BOWIE" and as best I can tell, is disc 1 of his "Reality Tour" cd.

On this disc is printed "Lisensed for promotional use only. This CD has not been sold. You may not transfer this CD without consent of record company and must return it on demand. Use or retention of the CD signifies acceptance of this license."

Amazon is reshipping. It makes me wonder if discs are manually inserted by people instead of an automated process. I'll update my review after receiving and hearing the 12 transcendentals.

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Very good, but not the best I know

This is only about the etudes (which are one of my favorite classical pieces of all times): Claudio Arrau's recording and interpretation is awesome -- several people have written that this is the only one you need. Well, I disagree, you need two, at least. Although this is really played well Japanese artist Kosuge Yu's recording on Sony, which is unfortunately not available currently from amazon.com (but from amazon.de or amazon.co.jp http://www.amazon.de/Etudes-Yu-Kosuge/dp/B00008CLLX/ref=sr_1_4/303-1010438-3173063?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190005201&sr=8-4), is better. The notes come out better, there is more energy, she plays some pieces a bit faster, she holds the rhythm much better, the recording itself is better -- compare yourself. Especially Mazeppa and Eroica seem almost lame (sorry :-) compared to Kosuge Yu's interpretation -- she is on fire in comparison. It feels that she owns that music while in Arrau's case the music owns him for some of the pieces. Kosuge Yu said apparently that Claudio Arrau was her idol in playing this music -- well, not surprisingly, you can hear it.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Tracks
Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 1. Prélude. Presto | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 2. Molto vivace | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 3. Paysage. Poco adagio | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 4. Mazeppa. Presto | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 5. Feux follets. Allegretto | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 6. Vision. Lento | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 7. Eroica. Allegro | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 8. Wilde Jagd. Presto furioso | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 9. Ricordanza. Andantino | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 10. Allegro agitato molto | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 11. Harmonies du soir. Andantino | Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 12. Chasse-neige. Andante con moto | Études de concert (3), for piano, S. 144 (LW A118): 1. Il lamento. A capriccio - Allegro cantabile | Études de concert (3), for piano, S. 144 (LW A118): 2. La leggierezza. A capriccio - Quasi allegretto | Études de concert (3), for piano, S. 144 (LW A118): 3. Un sospiro. Allegro affettuoso | Konzertetüden (2), for piano, S. 145 (LW A218): 1. Waldesrauschen | Konzertetüden (2), for piano, S. 145 (LW A218): 2. Gnomenreigen | Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52): 1. Il tremolo | Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52): 2. Andantino capriccioso | Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52): 3. La campanella | Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52): 4. Arpeggio | Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52): 5. La chasse | Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52): 6. Thème et variations

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