Liszt Valse Melancolique (8.30.10) Unedited

[furiouzpianist]

this is from the same run-though as the Rhapsody & Wilde Jagd. A gorgeous piece that I dug up. It is a pity that it not well known. The Arrau recording is fabulous.

[furtwaengler]

Thanks very much for this...I never knew it existed! It's a beautiful piece with and a lot of material worked into a small form by the master, Liszt. And it's an excellent performance, a great introduction for us to this piece. It's a treasure indeed.

[rachfan]

Hi furiouz,

What a delightful piece!  I had never heard it before, so greatly appreciate your sharing it with us here.  Your playing is artistic, engaging and convincing.

Like me, I notice that you prefer not to edit your recordings.  These days with editing utilities, there is altogether too much cutting and pasting in an attempt to produce sanitized "perfect" recordings.  In this life there is no "perfection", although we strive toward it as musicians, but never attain it in our lifetimes.  I blame the recording engineers at the commercial studios using their bags of tricks in producing professional CDs.  Then that sound carries over into competitions, recitals and home recordings where pianists end up playing the same plain vanilla renditions--boring!  Your playing is not like that at all.  You take risks, bring out the inner beauties of the music, and allow some of your own personality to enter into your artistry.  That's always my intent as well.  In the end I choose the best "take" among a few recordings, and that's the one I post--an authentic performance without edits.

[pianowolfi]

Wonderful! Thank you for posting this

I wonder what should be "mélancolique" about this piece?
Somehow it reminds me of Scriabin's Waltz op. 38. I am sure Scriabin has been influenced by this.

[furiouzpianist]

there are two versions of this piece, I play the second one because it is superior. This piece really is a masterpiece. Liszt had so many fantastic pieces from his output, and so diverse too. Really, I don't understand when people say Chopin is more consistent. My Chopin favorites are: 24 Preludes, Ballades 1-3, Etudes Op. 10: 1-5, 7, 8, 12, Op. 25 - 1-4, 6, 8, 10-12, Nocturnes Op. 9 No. 2, Op. 55 Nos 1 & 2. But there are things I could never love - the rambling Ballade 4, Andante Spianato & Polonaise, Concerti.