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Topic: What are Thalberg's best works?  (Read 1331 times)

Offline cuberdrift

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What are Thalberg's best works?
on: September 07, 2022, 11:35:19 AM
I want to learn some Thalberg in the near future. What are your favourite pieces of his? What are his hardest pieces?

Offline ronde_des_sylphes

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Re: What are Thalberg's best works?
Reply #1 on: September 07, 2022, 03:43:25 PM
Naturally my answer will be about paraphrases, but in passing I think his etudes deserve some kind of mention. The one I've played the most often: Moses, especially as a concert-finisher where I only play the second half, ie the Dal tuo stellato soglio variations.

Other favourites: La Sonnambula, which I think is his masterpiece, Don Pasquale, La Traviata, which is imo one of the hardest and its difficulty is a matter of first hand experience... The L'art du chant is a lovely compilation mostly without obstructive difficulties (check out the Paul Wee recording which is imo quite a bit better than the other complete sets).

The early Robert le Diable is ferociously difficult (Ponti makes quite few cuts). It and La Traviata are my picks for the hardest out of those which have been recorded. The likes of Semiranide, Don Juan, Norma, Don Pasquale are of course also very challenging. I was recently made aware of the paraphrase on Zampa and it looks worth investigating.
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Offline bayreuth1886

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Re: What are Thalberg's best works?
Reply #2 on: September 08, 2022, 05:25:28 PM

Thalberg's Etude Op. 26 No. 8 is a real gem.

Offline thalbergmad

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Re: What are Thalberg's best works?
Reply #3 on: September 09, 2022, 09:32:08 AM
I agree with my noble colleague about the Sonnambula transcription. It is Thalbergs finest work.

The transition into the 3 handed effect is genius.

Thal
Curator/Director
Concerto Preservation Society

Offline krncandi

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Re: What are Thalberg's best works?
Reply #4 on: September 19, 2022, 10:10:05 PM
I'd throw in his Moses Fantasy as well... I saw my professor perform this years ago and the difficulty for this and his other operatic fantasies are just transcendentally difficult. Incredible 3 hand illusion!

Offline cuberdrift

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Re: What are Thalberg's best works?
Reply #5 on: September 19, 2022, 11:47:13 PM
I'd throw in his Moses Fantasy as well... I saw my professor perform this years ago and the difficulty for this and his other operatic fantasies are just transcendentally difficult. Incredible 3 hand illusion!

Did he play the whole thing or only the second part (Moses' prayer)?

I think I might decide to learn this piece in the near future. Maybe only the second part.

Offline robertus

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Re: What are Thalberg's best works?
Reply #6 on: September 30, 2022, 02:35:21 AM
If you are looking for a good Thalberg piece to learn and include in programs, his arrangement of "Home Sweet Home". It's 'relatively' easy (at least, not musically complicated), and exemplifies his most characteristic technique perfectly. Also, audiences love it, since the melody is so well known.

His "Grand Sonata" is also very good- but a lot of work.

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