Favorite Liszt interpreter?

[weissenberg2]

Self explanatory...


I generally like Hamelin's except I HATE his HR2 and Paganini etudes   

I would probably say Jeno Jando, Krystian Zimmerman or Sviatoslav Richter.

[michel dvorsky]

Horribly incomplete list...just some of my favorite Liszt performances (off the top of my head).

Sonata - Horowitz, Barere, Gilels, Richter
Gnomenreigen - Rachmaninoff
Leggierezza - Benno
Venezia e Napoli Tarantella - Hofmann
Dante Sonata - Ogdon, Berman
Transcendentals - set - Berman
--#2 - Berman (hands down)
--Mazeppa - Arrau, Petri, Berman
--FF - Richter, Kissin (seriously)
--Wilde Jagd - Berman, Arrau, Kissin
--Eroica - Berman
--Vision - Berezovsky
--Harmonies - Arrau, Kentner
--Chasse Neige - Arrau, Kultyshev
Spanish Rhapsody - Arrau, Barere
Hungarian Rhapsodies - set - Cziffra
HR2 - Friedman, Hofmann, Rachmaninoff, Benno, Vlad...many great pianists have played it
HR6 - Horowitz, Bakk (there are a bunch I can't remember right now)
HR9 - Gilels, Pletnev, Berman
HR10 - Freire
HR11 - Pugno, Risler
HR13 - Busoni
HR19 - Horowitz

Concerti - (both) Richter
--Eb Lipatti, Michelangeli, Barere
Totentanz - Cziffra

Transcriptions
Schubert Serenade - Rachmaninoff
Chopin Songs - Rachmaninoff and Hofmann
Wagner Isolde - Horowitz
Wagner Tannhauser - Benno, Bolet
Gounod - Barere, Cziffra, Petri
Don Juan - Barere, Petrov
Norma - Kocsis, Bolet
Symphony Fantastique - Petrov
Symphony 5 - Gould

[retrouvailles]

I generally like Hamelin's except I HATE his HR2 and Paganini etudes   

I actually really hate Hamelin's HR2 also, but I love the cadenza. I really don't like his later disks much either, but his first Liszt disk on Music and Arts is fabulous (one of his first disks). His transcriptions, when done live, are very good also. I also like Zimerman's Liszt (concertos and sonata). For the TE's I really like Ovchinikov for the whole set, although I like other people for the individuals, but that varies by mood. I like Cziffra for certain things, but again, that varies by mood.

[michel dvorsky]

I actually really hate Hamelin's HR2 also, but I love the cadenza. I really don't like his later disks much either, but his first Liszt disk on Music and Arts is fabulous (one of his first disks). His transcriptions, when done live, are very good also. I also like Zimerman's Liszt (concertos and sonata). For the TE's I really like Ovchinikov for the whole set, although I like other people for the individuals, but that varies by mood. I like Cziffra for certain things, but again, that varies by mood.

The Ovchinnikov is decent.

Hamelin's Liszt Opera transcriptions are horribly overrated.

[retrouvailles]

Sure, they are horribly overrated, but I still like them. And there's nothing like seeing him play them live.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

General approximate rule for me:

if it's flashy, Cziffra
if it's a bit less flashy, Berman
if it's serious, Bolet

A few specific favourites:

Sonata: Barere
Totentanz: Zimerman
Robert le Diable: Wild
La muette di Portici: Cziffra

I can't make up my mind whether Bolet's Norma is remarkable or painful. It becomes obvious he was not well. At the risk of appearing to court controversy, I think Horowitz's Liebestod is atrocious and a sad epitaph to a truly great pianist.
 

[mikey6]

There's a surprisingly good naxos CD with Arnaldo Cohen playing a few transcriptions and some of the late works.

[michel dvorsky]

I can't make up my mind whether Bolet's Norma is remarkable or painful. It becomes obvious he was not well. At the risk of appearing to court controversy, I think Horowitz's Liebestod is atrocious and a sad epitaph to a truly great pianist.
 

I have some mixed opinions about the Bolet Norma too.. But LOVE the Horowitz Liebestod.

[communist]

Arthur Friedheim.

[imbetter]

Just some:

Sonata-Zimmerman
Concerti-Zimmerman
Hungarian Rhapsodies (set)-Jando
Transcendental Etudes-Berezovsky
Mephisto Waltz no.1-Horowitz all the way

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I have some mixed opinions about the Bolet Norma too.. But LOVE the Horowitz Liebestod.

I could write a small book on what I consider to be wrong with Horowitz's: I guess we will have to agree to differ. While I'm at it, Brendel's is probably worse  

Fiorentino did quite a decent late Liszt CD.

[weissenberg2]

I actually really hate Hamelin's HR2 also, but I love the cadenza. I really don't like his later disks much either, but his first Liszt disk on Music and Arts is fabulous (one of his first disks). His transcriptions, when done live, are very good also. I also like Zimerman's Liszt (concertos and sonata). For the TE's I really like Ovchinikov for the whole set, although I like other people for the individuals, but that varies by mood. I like Cziffra for certain things, but again, that varies by mood.

Really? I thought his cadenza was all technical. I will have to listen to it again. Is the first Liszt disk on Music and Arts the one with the Don Juan Paraphrase? if so I agree that disk is very good. Have you heard Zimerman's Liszt sonata? it is incredible.

[retrouvailles]

Fix your quote tag.

Yes, that is the disk I am talking about. And yes, I do know Zimerman's Liszt sonata and I also like it. I wouldn't say that Hamelin's HR2 Cadenza is all technical. It has some very interesting polytonal sections that really catch the ear. I would say it is the first great modern cadenza for that work. All of the other cadenzas for that work are written in a romantic style, where this one is clearly in a more modern style. Also, the technical problems in it are quite unique, also.

[weissenberg2]

Fix your quote tag.

Yes, that is the disk I am talking about. And yes, I do know Zimerman's Liszt sonata and I also like it. I wouldn't say that Hamelin's HR2 Cadenza is all technical. It has some very interesting polytonal sections that really catch the ear. I would say it is the first great modern cadenza for that work. All of the other cadenzas for that work are written in a romantic style, where this one is clearly in a more modern style. Also, the technical problems in it are quite unique, also.

I agree the modernism to the cadenza is interesting & original, however, the work is a romantic piece and I believe the cadenza should also be romantic, but I see no reason why we should not move ahead and write a modern cadenza. 

[iroveashe]

Have you heard Zimerman's Liszt sonata? it is incredible.

I second that. The narrative in Zimerman's Liszt is outstanding.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Volodos though, I find his HR2 to be one of the best.

[weissenberg2]

Anyone here like Cziffra's Hungarian Rhapsodies?

[antichrist]

Anyone here like Cziffra's Hungarian Rhapsodies?

I really can't find a Liszt interpreter better than Cziffra Gyorgy
He turns that infamous grand galop chromatique into Great music,also his HR6 is the best version ever,I swear.

[communist]

I really can't find a Liszt interpreter better than Cziffra Gyorgy
He turns that infamous grand galop chromatique into Great music,also his HR6 is the best version ever,I swear.

I love his HR 6, his is so happy and has so much energy, especially in his coda. His Grand Galop Chromatique is also great. I also like his HR 12.

[thalbergmad]

Some of the transcriptions recorded by Earl Wild are extremely pleasing to my ears.

Thal

[communist]

Some of the transcriptions recorded by Earl Wild are extremely pleasing to my ears.

Thal

Indeed, his are very good

Has anyone here heard Berman's Spanish rhapsody?

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Some of the transcriptions recorded by Earl Wild are extremely pleasing to my ears.

Thal

Absolutely. His "The Demonic Liszt" cd is surely one of the best Liszt discs ever recorded.

Robert le Diable:

Indeed, his are very good

Has anyone here heard Berman's Spanish rhapsody?

Yes, I have it on LP somewhere. Was very impressed with it.

[communist]

Hungarian Rhapsodies (set)-Jando

His are great but I find Friedheim to be much better with no.9.

[thoven_liszt]

Best Liszt interpreters for myself are Cziffra and my piano teacher!