Help with Interpreting Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies

[lephantome92]

I'm working on trying to learn a few Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies (at the moment, specifically nos 3 and 5), but I'm unsure as of the best way to interpret them. I've tried listening to various recordings, and they don't seem to have a whole lot in common. My biggest question is how much rubato is acceptable to "properly" play them, or should they be played more strictly in tempo? I've managed to easily find topics both here and elsewhere asking about a general ordering of the difficulties, but so far nothing of much help in how to interpret the pieces.

[awesom_o]

I'd help you, but you'd have to buy me lunch. Something at least the level of a shwarma, and preferably something fancier, depending on the level of interpretive detail you need help with.

In the meantime, all I can say is that all of the information you need to interpret the piece properly exists in the score. Chances are high that, if you lack the level of understanding required to read that much into the score, the piece is probably too difficult for you. Also, I recommend that you do NOT develop your interpretation by listening to various recordings. 

Don't you have a teacher? 

[theholygideons]

Just do whatever. It's a Hungarian Rhapsody for Christ's sake.

[invictious]

Just do whatever. It's by Liszt for Christ's sake.

[dima_76557]

I'm working on trying to learn a few Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies (at the moment, specifically nos 3 and 5), but I'm unsure as of the best way to interpret them. I've tried listening to various recordings, and they don't seem to have a whole lot in common. My biggest question is how much rubato is acceptable to "properly" play them, or should they be played more strictly in tempo? I've managed to easily find topics both here and elsewhere asking about a general ordering of the difficulties, but so far nothing of much help in how to interpret the pieces.

The Hungarian rhapsodies are based on Hungarian folk themes and there is a certain established performance culture involved. If you feel you don't have the required intuition for that culture, don't sweat it by even thinking about something as elitist as "interpretation". Simply listen a lot to Hungarians (not only pianists!) playing that stuff and try to imitate what you hear to get their effects. As soon as you "grow up", it will be time for you to say something of your own, but you have to have at least the basics first.
P.S.: For the rhapsodies in question (numbers 3 and 5), you can't go wrong with this recording:

[lephantome92]

I'd help you, but you'd have to buy me lunch. Something at least the level of a shwarma, and preferably something fancier, depending on the level of interpretive detail you need help with.

In the meantime, all I can say is that all of the information you need to interpret the piece properly exists in the score. Chances are high that, if you lack the level of understanding required to read that much into the score, the piece is probably too difficult for you. Also, I recommend that you do NOT develop your interpretation by listening to various recordings. 

Don't you have a teacher? 

I do have a teacher, but I won't see him for several more weeks until lessons resume at college, he rarely, if ever, checks his email over the summer (last summer I sent him an email, and he admitted he only checked his email and read it when classes resume), and my phone is on its last legs, with calls being rather difficult. He's also about two hours away


(Here's another time where I try not to make a fool of myself) While I do have several ideas of different ways of playing it, I want to make sure it truly captures the "essence", per se, of the piece

[pytheamateur]

I'm learning No 2.  One thing my teacher says I'm been doing is that I've been playing the slow section too much like a nocturne. So, don't follow Liszt's pedal marks to the letter.