Most Demanding Romantic Variations? (solo piano)

[richterfan1]

Which are the "hardest" variations of the romantic era? For solo piano

[asiantraveller101]

Probably Brahms Paganini Variations Bk. 1 and 2. Great composition, but hard to pull through.

[bluthner]

No way. Reger's Bach Variations. Definitely. Or maybe Alkans Festin d'Esope.

[fftransform]

[stoudemirestat]

Liszt Totentanz, Solo piano version.

[keyboardkat]

I didn't know Liszt wrote a solo version of the Todentanz. 

Don't forget about the Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel.   They are far from easy.

[pianoplayjl]

Liszt's hexameron? not many pianists recorded this one

[forgottenbooks]

I would say Godowsky's Passacaglia, but I don't know if that counts as romantic.

[pianoplayjl]

Aesop's feast because not many pianists also recorded that one but also maybe Aesop's Feast is such an obscure work that it has become forgotten and neglected in the standard repertoire. One of my aquaintances is learning that variations.

[leonidli]

Really, there's no way that it is not Reger's Bach variations! Le Festin and Godowsky's passacaglia are very, very difficult, true; but consider the variety of techniques required and the LENGTH (which implies the stamina needed). And don't forget about the 8 pages long fugue at the end! I've once read the Hamelin said this is one of the most difficult things he ever played and it seems very plausible for him to say that.

[pianoplayjl]

Why not aesop's feast? every variation focuses on a specific technique and therefore it is like an etude.