Liszt Operatic Transcription Difficulty

[dkwok2]

Hey guys. So I have this list of Opera Transcriptions that I would like to learn someday, and among them are:

Reminiscences de Norma
Valse Infernale Reminiscences de Robert le Diable
Faust Waltz
Reminiscences de Lucia du Lamermoor
Reminiscences de Don Juan
Tannhauser Overture
Tristan und Isolde Liebestod

I recently completed learning the Reminiscences de Norma and can play it pretty well (still needs more polishing, but it is definitely attainable). I am just wondering how you guys would rank the difficulty of the other pieces on this list compared to the Norma. Thanks in advance!

[j_menz]

Much of a muchness - have a look and see.

You may also like to look at some of the transcriptions by Carl Tausig. Very nice indeed, but probably a step up.

[birba]

The don juan is considered the most difficult of his transcriptions - it's actually a paraphrase - and one of his most difficult pieces, period.  The faust waltz is the only one i've played on this liszt.  Not really that hard untl the last few pages.  Oh no, wait, i've done the lucia, too.  And if i can play it, anyone can. Requires delicacy - not bombastic octaves.
I'm currently working on the aida paraphrase which is also a delicate piece with some late lisztian harmonies and modulatuions.  Again, not your typical show-stopper.  I'm also doing the lohengrin festival and bridal song.  Bombastic repeated octaves.  Well, you've got to wake them up after you've put them to sleep.
Oh wait, i've done the liebestod, too. Not difficult and musically gratifying.  If you're into wagner.  There's that other edition they posted here a while ago which is more pianistic in many ways.  I hate it when liszt uses those octave tremolos in the bass.
I'm also having fun with the ride of the walkyries.  A tausig transcription.
The rigoletto is overdone, but also not that difficult.

[birba]

Note: that pun was not intended!!!   

[j_menz]

I'm also having fun with the ride of the walkyries.  A tausig transcription.

You have a rather masochistic sense of fun. 

The Brassin transcription of that is also exceptionally good - I'm waiting til it arrives before I decide what to massacre.

[dkwok2]

The don juan is considered the most difficult of his transcriptions - it's actually a paraphrase - and one of his most difficult pieces, period.  The faust waltz is the only one i've played on this liszt.  Not really that hard untl the last few pages.  Oh no, wait, i've done the lucia, too.  And if i can play it, anyone can. Requires delicacy - not bombastic octaves.
I'm currently working on the aida paraphrase which is also a delicate piece with some late lisztian harmonies and modulatuions.  Again, not your typical show-stopper.  I'm also doing the lohengrin festival and bridal song.  Bombastic repeated octaves.  Well, you've got to wake them up after you've put them to sleep.
Oh wait, i've done the liebestod, too. Not difficult and musically gratifying.  If you're into wagner.  There's that other edition they posted here a while ago which is more pianistic in many ways.  I hate it when liszt uses those octave tremolos in the bass.
I'm also having fun with the ride of the walkyries.  A tausig transcription.
The rigoletto is overdone, but also not that difficult.

Haha, awesome!

Where can I get this transcription of the Liebestod, because I also HATE the bass tremolos. The first time I heard that, I was like "What the heck?!?!?!" haha

[ronde_des_sylphes]

The Don Juan, Tannhauser and Robert le Diable are much harder than the others mentioned. Don Juan harder than Norma; Robert le Diable probably also (though the difficulties are of a different nature). Tannhauser is a matter of endurance. The Faust Waltz is probably one of the most accessible virtuoso-sounding paraphrases.

[j_menz]

Haha, awesome!

Where can I get this transcription of the Liebestod, because I also HATE the bass tremolos. The first time I heard that, I was like "What the heck?!?!?!" haha

The Moszkowski transcription is on IMSLP, but I've attached it here as well.

I find in the Liszt that if you double (or more) the speed of the tremelos, they're a better effect.

[birba]

Thanks SO much for that!  I'm going to learn it. 

[j_menz]

Thanks SO much for that!  I'm going to learn it. 

After your excellent job on the Liszt one, I hope very much you share once you have.