Liszt's works for piano and orchestra

[eddie92099]

Which of Liszt's works for piano and orchestra are your favourite? I know the First and Second Piano Concertos (there is a third apparently - has anyone heard it?), the Totentanz, the Fantasy on Hungarian Themes and the Malediction.
Additionally, has anyone heard the other works such as the Concerto in the Hungarian Style, the Concerto Pathetique, the Concert Solo for Piano and Orchestra, Hexameron or the unfinished De Profundis? If so are they any good?
Ed

[Rach3]

Are the Hexameron variations for piano and orchestra?

The first concerto is my favorite, pure romanticism, intoxicating melodies (2nd movement), also short and virtruosic, very underplayed, I would expect to be very effective in student competitions - not too difficult. It is classic Liszt, beatufiul melodic writing sandwiched with extroverted showing-off stuff. I've listened to Cliburn playing the second, it's somewhat wierd though funny, I didn't entirely like it. It has six movements.

[johnreef]

eddie wrote: Additionally, has anyone heard the other works such as the Concerto in the Hungarian Style, the Concerto Pathetique, the Concert Solo for Piano and Orchestra, Hexameron or the unfinished De Profundis? If so are they any good?

Hexameron is for solo piano, a set of six variations by Liszt, Chopin, Czerny, and a couple of nineteenth-century "flavor of the month" composers. Liszt tied the thing together with an introduction and some transitional material. Some of it is decent, much is stupid. Czerny's contribution sounds like a finger exercise. Allegedly very difficult to play. I read that Arrau played it in his younger years.

John

[eddie92099]

Hexameron is for solo piano, a set of six variations by Liszt, Chopin, Czerny, and a couple of nineteenth-century "flavor of the month" composers.

My bad,
Ed

[cygnusdei]

If I understand correctly, the Grosses Konzertsolo is an earlier draft of the Concerto Pathetique, the latter having both 2-piano and piano & orchestra versions.

[burstroman]

The first Concerto is by far his best work for pf and orch. in my opinion.

[jre58591]

ive heard howard's complete set of piano/orchestra works by liszt and the 2nd concerto is still my favorite work. however, the one he did with sophie menter comes close.

[cygnusdei]

In the Malédiction there is a curious near quotation of Beethoven Symphony no. 9 fourth movement (i.e. the Allegro energico, sempre ben marcato section). Liszt must have known this passage, considering he did the solo piano arrangement of the symphony.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

ive heard howard's complete set of piano/orchestra works by liszt and the 2nd concerto is still my favorite work. however, the one he did with sophie menter comes close.

I think exactly what Liszt did with Sophie Menter is a matter for some speculation..

My favourite is undoubtedly the Totentanz. I do quite like the Malediction, though.

The Hungarian Fantasy is effectiely the 14th Hungarian Rhapsody arranged for piano and orchestra. De Profundis is quite interesting, I think. I have a recording of it on a disc with the 3rd Concerto and an earlier version of the Totentanz (Steven Mayer, piano).

[mikey6]

Hexameron is for solo piano, a set of six variations by Liszt, Chopin, Czerny, and a couple of nineteenth-century "flavor of the month" composers. Liszt tied the thing together with an introduction and some transitional material. Some of it is decent, much is stupid. Czerny's contribution sounds like a finger exercise. Allegedly very difficult to play. I read that Arrau played it in his younger years.

John

There is from what I remember a piano and orchestra arrangement of Hexamaron - not sure if it's by Liszt or not.
It was written as an excercise in virtuosity, each compsoer trying to outdo each other (except Chopin who felt he couldn't/didn;t want to compete) so of course there's gonna be lots of 'finger' excercises!

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I've read that Liszt did indeed write a piano and orchestra version of Hexameron for use on his tours; I'm afraid I don't know if this version has survived to the present day.

[ce nedra]

I've heard the 3rd concerto, recorded by Stephen Meyer or something. Its awful. It has its pretty moments and might've sounded a little better if they'd used a better pianist, but overall its not nearly in the league of, say, the 1st and 2nd concerti, Totentanz, Hungarian Fantasia etc etc. I think it should've stayed unknown and lost in some cellar.....

[avetma]

I've heard the 3rd concerto, recorded by Stephen Meyer or something. Its awful. It has its pretty moments and might've sounded a little better if they'd used a better pianist, but overall its not nearly in the league of, say, the 1st and 2nd concerti, Totentanz, Hungarian Fantasia etc etc. I think it should've stayed unknown and lost in some cellar.....

I like Third concerto much more than 1st or Totentanz (Louis Lortie).