Bellini=Liszt Reminiscences de Norma

[imbetter]

Such a beautiful piece. I'm going to play it better than Hamelin some day

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Wouldn't be hard to play the middle (B major) section better than Hamelin. His playing of it on the video up on youtube is atrociously unmusical.

But, yes, a fantastic piece.

[thalbergmad]

Might i be so bold as to suggest that you divert yourself to some superior arrangements.

Thal

[dnephi]

Might i be so bold as to suggest that you divert yourself to some superior arrangements.

Thal

Perhaps it is more "brilliant", but I confess that the psychological and musical interweavings of themes and their juxtaposition point to Liszt's compositional genius, while Thalberg's point to his talent for creating virtuoso settings alone.

Do you agree?

[mephisto]

I think Liszt's arrangement is amazing, but very very difficult.

[thalbergmad]

Perhaps it is more "brilliant", but I confess that the psychological and musical interweavings of themes and their juxtaposition point to Liszt's compositional genius, while Thalberg's point to his talent for creating virtuoso settings alone.

Do you agree?

Yes

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I definitely prefer Liszt's to Thalberg's, but in fairness to Thalberg I think Liszt's is one of his very finest compositions - the structural scheme (repeatedly modulating up a major third) is noteworthy, and compared to much of the genre I feel that Liszt's Norma has an unusual emotional depth and nobility (except for the cheesy G maj theme over the pesky lh octaves, heh). Thalberg's composition is certainly worthy of revival - and I'd like to see more people playing it, but I'd say (re arrangements of themes from Norma) his Casta diva is better.

.

[theodopolis]

Such a beautiful piece. I'm going to play it better than Hamelin some day

I wish you luck with that. Once Hamelin has been conquered you can then cast your eyes to the Everest that is Jorge Bolet's titanic interpretation.

It's funny how Liszt was better at writing in Thalbergian three-hand technique than Thalberg himself.

JG

(I wonder if I'll get away with that one...)

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I wish you luck with that. Once Hamelin has been conquered you can then cast your eyes to the Everest that is Jorge Bolet's titanic interpretation.

And there's Grigory Ginsburg's and Giovanni Bellucci's Norma also ...

It's funny how Liszt was better at writing in Thalbergian three-hand technique than Thalberg himself.

JG

(I wonder if I'll get away with that one...)

Nah, won't let you away with it 

Apologies for the self-advertisement... but I do think this is a fantastic passage.

[theodopolis]

And there's Grigory Ginsburg's and Giovanni Bellucci's Norma also ...

I can't forgive Ginsburg for cutting out the three-handed section almost entirely which is the highlight of the piece for me.

Terrible lapse in judgement


JG

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I can't forgive Ginsburg for cutting out the three-handed section almost entirely which is the highlight of the piece for me.

Terrible lapse in judgement

You are of course correct. My memory has been somewhat selective - it is a long time since I listened to the Ginsburg disc and I was sufficiently impressed by the playing throughout it that I had entirely forgotten about him cutting the three-handed effect.