Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies - Good Recordings?

[quantum]

So what good recordings of these pieces do you recommend? 

I've known a couple of these pieces for a while but until now haven't heard the complete set.  I took out a CD in the library with Roberto Szidon playing.  I followed along with the score and I'm not too enthusiastic about his interpretations.  A lot of the time I find his playing lacks focus or direction.  There were numerous places where it seems he just passes off the notes without giving thought to any particular meaning or shape.  Anyone else hear this recording?  What are your thoughts?

[rob47]

is your best bet.

[stevie]

is your best bet.

true, i agree.

[quantum]

I don't recognize the face.  *goes and hides behind rock* 

[brahmsian]

I don't recognize the face. *goes and hides behind rock*

'Tis Cziffra. Aka: True Lord Almighty Grand Poobah Overlord King of Pianism and Everything it Thereby Entails.

(IMHO)

 

His HR's are excellent as well.

[mikey6]

CZIFFRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - the reincarnation of Liszt as someone once put it!

[rohansahai]

Georges Cziffra. PERIOD !

[mrdaveux]

Cziffra is certainly the most idiomatic pianist for the HR.

His playing is very extreme though, I personally can't take his HR all at once. For a more normal and balanced approach, Roberto Szidon is pretty good.

For more personal interpretations of individual HR, besides Cziffra, I suggest Horowitz (#2, 15, 19), Argerich (#6), Kissin (#12).

[stevie]

normal and balanced is a nice alternative, but the HRs are ALL ABOTU insanity and extremes...listen to hungarian czardas music....

[mrchops10]

Cziffra is certainly the most idiomatic pianist for the HR.

His playing is very extreme though, I personally can't take his HR all at once.

Isn't that the point? Nobody ever said this was a set, but everybody plays everything as a set nowadays. Why is that?

[donjuan]

I remember someone suggested Roberto szidon so I had to go out and have a listen to another hungarian other than Cziffra play these things.  The recordings turned out to be excellent!  Very fine, precise tone and the perfect kind and extent of rubato.

Of course, I love my Cziffra though!!

[spirithorn]

To hear a different approach, but one that is surprisingly musical, check out Brendel.

[thracozaag]

Individual highlights:

#2--Hoffman, Rachmaninoff, Horowitz (his version of course), Odgon (live)
#3--Berman
#6--Horowitz, Cziffra (live), Kapell
#9--Berman, Cziffra (live), Gilels
#11--Kapell (live and studio), Cortot
#12--Bolet (live)
#13--Horowitz (his version live)
#15--Gilels (live), Horowitz (his version)
#19--Horowitz (his version), Cziffra

koji

[etudes]

Individual highlights:

#2--Hoffman, Rachmaninoff, Horowitz (his version of course), Odgon (live)
#3--Berman
#6--Horowitz, Cziffra (live), Kapell
#9--Berman, Cziffra (live), Gilels
#11--Kapell (live and studio), Cortot
#12--Bolet (live)
#13--Horowitz (his version live)
#15--Gilels (live), Horowitz (his version)
#19--Horowitz (his version), Cziffra

koji

i would add Cortot to the 2nd and Hamelin freaking cadenza from the same rhapsody

[practicingnow]

I think that the best recording I've ever heard of any Rhapsody is the sound recording of #13 played by F. Busoni

[presto agitato]

Num 12 played by Murray Perahia is the BEST by FAR

[musicsdarkangel]

I really like Liberaci's HR 6

[rohansahai]

Is there any recording possibly better than the Argerich HR 6?

[alejo_90]

Hey what about Michele Campanella's recording !! It's on a Phillips 2CD box. Why hasn't anyone mentioned it, it's a very good one, better than Roberto Szidon's in my opinion.

[tompilk]

is there 1 cd with all teh rhapsodies on (or a box set?) Ive looked all over iTunes but there is "Liszt - Complete Piano Music" - and you have to buy 2 cds at £7.99 ech to get all the rhapsodies!
Tom