Liszt Totentanz (arr. Lewenthal)

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I consider the Benzi/Cziffra and the Michelangeli Vatican recordings to be definitive, but this is a fascinating alternative:

[abel2]

Do you have sheet music?

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Unfortunately not. I have a feeling that Lewenthal's arrangement comprises a combination of his own ideas and the alternative Liszt version(s) of the Totentanz (there is at least one other Liszt version extant - whether it is available anywhere I have no idea).

[abel2]

Unfortunately not. I have a feeling that Lewenthal's arrangement comprises a combination of his own ideas and the alternative Liszt version(s) of the Totentanz (there is at least one other Liszt version extant - whether it is available anywhere I have no idea).

Ah, shame. Yeah, there's a first solo version but I think it's lost.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

One of the alternative orchestral versions by definition must exist, as Steven Mayer recorded it with Vasary conducting, c. 2000.

[abel2]

One of the alternative orchestral versions by definition must exist, as Steven Mayer recorded it with Vasary conducting, c. 2000.

Oh, I was referring to the first solo version. There's solo versions of both orchestral editions, but I can't find the solo first edition anywhere.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I suspect checking Leslie Howard's discography would probably be fairly indicative regarding the existence of alternative solo scores, as he seems to have made a point of recording these as well as the usual versions.

[liszt1022]

There are only two Totentanzes from Liszt - the orchestra and solo. The "other" orchestra (De Profundis) is a creation of Busoni using Liszt's ideas that he ended up rejecting before publishing. Perhaps Liszt performed it a few ways during the years, but just the usual orch & solo are official.
The Lewenthal version up there is basically the entire Liszt orchestra version, but also adding in Busoni's De Profundis ideas.

On imslp you can look at Liszt's handwritten "first version" which has a lot of "deleted scenes."

Many people who play Totentanz solo end up adding in features they like from the orchestra version (usually the longer ending.) Lisitsa, I believe, is the only one to play features from the solo edition during the orchestra version.

Leslie Howard recorded the one solo version, the usual orchestra version, and the De Profundis version, although he mentions in the liner notes that the owner of the autograph De Profundis score refused LH permission to study it. So it's authenticity was already questionable, but LH's Liszt series was wrapping  and he recorded everything real & questionable during his Piano&Orch recordings.