What should be my first Liszt piece?

[berniano]

Hey all,

     Figured today would be a good one to start exploring more of Liszt since it's his birthday....and I have yet to actually learn a piece by him. I've done a lot of Chopin: 1st, 2nd, and 4th Ballades plus Barcarolle and some other stuff along with Debussy L'Isle Joyeuse and Ravel Ondine, some concerti, etudes, a lot of Bach, etc. Any one have a suggestion as to what I should look at for my first go at Liszt? Thanks in advance for the help

Berniano

[pianoplayjl]

Un sospiro?

[b_nghiem]

You already have played many difficult pieces (musically and technically)

Perhaps you would like one of his Sonettos, a Hungarian Rhapsody (the famous Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 isn't too far out of reach,) Un Sospiro is a great piece (and since I've mentioned an etude, you can maybe just peak into his Transcendental Etudes to see where you're headed in the future,) or maybe a personal favourite of mine, Sposalizio. I found his Legendes, Benediction de Dieu en Solitude, Vallee d'Obermann, the Dante sonata, and the Mephisto Waltz no 1 very "fun" to learn... that is not to say that I've dared to play them all in public just yet

Great to see that his 200th anniversary has sparked an interest in the him!
Good luck.

[49410enrique]

overall I'd suggest giving lots of music both a read and a listen to see what really grabs you. 

this is a fun one, Spanish Rhapsody

[berniano]

Thanks guys, these suggestions are very helpful! I still have to discuss with my teacher of course, but there is just so much to choose from......

[werq34ac]

What sort of Liszt are you looking for? The technically dazzling like the etudes, or the more introspective like the consolations and such? Or something with a bit of both like the Mephisto Waltzes? If you've played Ballade 4, the only pieces you should really avoid are Mazeppa, Feux Follets, Chasse Neige, and the Sonata in B minor.

[berniano]

That's the thing......I'm not sure what I should start with, but right now I'm probably leaning toward something a bit longer than an Etude, unless it was a set of etudes; something that would work well as part of a recital (that could stand alone).

[pianoplayjl]

Try the Liszt tarantella. I think that piece is very Introspective and technically dazzling.

[werq34ac]

That's the thing......I'm not sure what I should start with, but right now I'm probably leaning toward something a bit longer than an Etude, unless it was a set of etudes; something that would work well as part of a recital (that could stand alone).

How much longer than an etude? The etudes aren't that short (well some of them are) and can easily function on their own, since they are in fact, concert etudes.

You could look at some of the Hungarian Rhapsodies, which travel through a variety of Lisztian pianism (lol two made up words). They go from cantabile and recitivo sort of passage to technically dazzling, energy-filled presto passages. Though they are pieces for showing off even in the slow parts.
I absolutely love Hungarian Rhapsody no. 12, it's definitely the best one.

If you want something more restrained and lyrical, go with a consolation or liebestraume. There's a few lyrical concert etudes as well. Waldesrauchen, La Leggierezza, Un Sospiro, Harmonies du Soir, etc. And then there's also some other stuff like Annees de Pelrinage (Jeux D'eau is fantastic, Vallee D'Obermann is good as well)

And the mephisto waltzes have a bit of everything I think. The restrained lyricism, the recitivo singing (maybe, I can't recall), the technically dazzling, the dark passion of romanticism, etc. etc.


In general, listen to a lot of Liszt, pick something that really catches your ear, and just go with it.

[pianoplayjl]

Probably learn an easier Liszt piece first to get a taste of how hard it could be and then learn a hard one.

[annaivanova]

If you want some suggestions and want to hear how they sound, you could listen to some recordings that I made.
Type in YouTube: Anna Ivanova Liszt and you will find 7 great Liszt compositions. Some of them I play on his personal Bechsteins (1 in Weimar, 1 in Berlin). Or start with this link and than find the others

Think that the choice is not easy as I love them all myself.
Have a good choice.