Wagner-Liszt Isolde's Liebestod

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Another transcription from a recent recital.

Liszt's piano recreation of the final scene from Tristan und Isolde.

[rachfan]

Hi sylphes,

This recording of "Liebestod" is outstanding!  Bravo!  I must imagine that you sometimes attend the opera and listen to operatic recordings.  In this piano transcription you not only capture the Wagnerian cantilena, but also the wonder of the transfiguration as well.  Wonderful playing--this is one of the best performances I've heard of "Liebestod".  In the same way that many of us pianists become intoxicated with Rachmaninoff's music, I once read a comment by Horowitz saying that in the early 1900s pianists were captivated by these transcriptions of Wagner, and it's easy to see why!

As you know, I've been playing Catoire lately, and so often the Wagner vocal textures permeate his pieces.  It's a joy to make it come alive for the listener.  I'm sure you feel the same way.
 
Great job!

[goldentone]

Your finish of the piece as the passion disappears into the night is most impressive.  I really enjoy your performances of these transcriptions, Ronde.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thank you both for your comments. I believe that, in general, it is harder to put across a piano transcription of Wagner opera than one where the source material is, for example, Bellini or Verdi, due to the high level of orchestral colour inherent in Wagner's writing. Thankfully Liszt really excelled himself with this arrangement.

As this is my very favourite transcription, I'm delighted that both of you clearly enjoyed this performance.