Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies, Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Not all of the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies are flat-out showpieces like the best-known ones, so this disc makes for a better listening program than you might expect. And Jénö Jandó, who must be the hardest-working pianist in the recording business, has a real flair for this music. He plays with the combination of free rhythms and virtuosity that the music demands, and he even indulges in a bit of improvisation when the spirit moves him. This was probably something Liszt did himself, and other great Liszt interpreters such as Rachmaninov and Cziffra have done the same thing. Jandó doesn't quite have Cziffra's overwhelming virtuosity, but he plays musically and the result is a highly entertaining disc. We've heard better-sounding piano recordings, but for the price this is amazing. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Lento Quasi Recitativo - Andante Con Moto - Andante (Assai Moderato) - Quasi Improvvisato - Andatino - Piu Lento - Allegro Animato - Piu Moderato - Allegro Risoluto
Lento A Capriccio - Andante Mesto - Vivace - Tempo Giusto , Vivace - Prestissimo
Andante - Allegretto - Andante
Quasi Adagio, Altieramente - Andatino - Allegretto - Presto
Lento, Con Duolo
Tempo Giusto - Presto - Andante - Allegro - Presto
Lento (Gypsy Style) - Vivace
Lento A Capriccio - Sempre Lento Malinconico Assai Allegretto Con Grazia - Presto Giocoso Assai
Moderato - Sempre Moderato A Capriccio - Allegretto - Andante - Finale: Presto - Un Poco Meno Presto - Allegretto - Presto - Piu Animato - Allegro Moderato - Presto

Amazon.com

Not all of the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies are flat-out showpieces like the best-known ones, so this disc makes for a better listening program than you might expect. And Jénö Jandó, who must be the hardest-working pianist in the recording business, has a real flair for this music. He plays with the combination of free rhythms and virtuosity that the music demands, and he even indulges in a bit of improvisation when the spirit moves him. This was probably something Liszt did himself, and other great Liszt interpreters such as Rachmaninov and Cziffra have done the same thing. Jandó doesn't quite have Cziffra's overwhelming virtuosity, but he plays musically and the result is a highly entertaining disc. We've heard better-sounding piano recordings, but for the price this is amazing. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Jando infuses the Rhapsodies.......2006-07-06

With the 12th Volume of the Naxos Complete Piano Music of Liszt, Jeno Jando returns to create an invigorating and fiery rendition of Liszt's masterpieces. Here the first 9 Hungarian Rhapsodies are given an amazing interpretation of passion and intelligence. Although I've reviewed the previous Naxos Liszt CD's, this was one of my first CD's of Liszt's music I ever heard. I bought this along with the Vol. 2 of Naxos' Liszt music (the Transcendental Etudes). That was over a year ago and to this day after all my excavations into Cziffra, Bolet, Brendel, Howard, Bermann et al, I've always come back to this CD; it's one of my favorite CD's that I own. Maybe it's the nostalgia of my first listening experience with Liszt, but maybe it's also the technical mastery and full-blooded performance that Jando gives which brings me back.

For those unfamiliar with Liszt's rhapsodies, you must get this CD. Just as the Beethoven beginner starts with symphonies or piano sonatas, or the Chopin initiate with the etudes or nocturnes, these Hungarian Rhapsodies from Liszt are a staple of his compositions. Every one of them is good. I don't even want to rate them because each one is extremely unique, original, and inspired by that characteristic Gypsy rondo/dance/rhythm that other composers (Brahms for instance) also used in their compositions. But unlike Brahms, Liszt's use of gypsy music can never be rivaled in creating such an oustanding and dazzling effect of piano sound. Liszt the orchestrator is fully comprehended after you hear his manipulations and sound effects. The music ranges from morbidly dark and hopeless to a jubilant scherzo-like, sometimes demonic dance. These are outstanding masterworks of the piano. Like the Paganini-Etudes, they reshaped the possibilities of the piano.

If you're already familiar with the rhapsodies then I can't give much better advice except that if you're already attached to a beloved pianist's interpretation, you might not relinquish it for Jando. But that shouldn't stop you from hearing what his takes might be. His rendering of the HR 2 is not my favorite, but his 3, 5, 7, and 8 are the best I've heard. The last one, 9, is also hair-raising. The sound quality is crisp and for those who may have read rumors of Jando's frequent humming (like Gould before him) don't be alarmed here. I blast these rhapsodies loudly in my house and in my car and never hear anything except titanic powerhouse and arousing piano music from Liszt.

Bottom line: Liszt beginners indulge yourself here. Here is some of his finest piano music at a very low price.

Hungarian Vol1 Review.......2005-07-19

Liszt is always a good time, but I think this CD lacks a little in the feeling category. It is a very helpful tool to discover what the piece sounds like when all the notes are hit, which is good for musicians such as myself, where it can take a while to get an idea of how the song should go. This CD leaves the interpretation arena open, however, because I think Jando focuses mainly on getting it right (and pretty much perfect) instead of how he feels about what he's playing.

Brilliant!.......2000-01-23

I own four recordings of the complete rhapsodies, including the
Cziffra mentioned above, and this (Vol. 13 completes the set) is by
far my favorite. Two qualities stand out here--the pianist's obvious
love and enjoyment of what he is playing, and his clear sense of the
"story" that each piece tells. Several of the
infrequently-heard rhapsodies have here a distinct character that, to
me at least, "makes sense" for the first time. Jando's
improvisations are always intelligent and convincing (whereas I find
Szidon's rather weird and his playing rather muddy), and his reading
of #12 is especially moving. The sound quality is also brilliant, and
of course at the price the CD's are a steal.

A brilliant recording with both Lisztian flair and subtlety.......1999-08-24

Once again listeners are treated to one of the world's most talented pianists, Jénö Jandó, with yet another outstanding performance - again at "discount price". Jandó elegantly manages to recite the Hungarian Rhapsodies with an incredible amount of skill, masterful interpretation, professionalism, and virtuosity alike. Every recording Jénö Jandó has made for Naxos has been of the highest standard, and it is clear that Jandó has no intention of lowering those standards. Espescially to Liszt-admirers, this recording will raise the levels of adrenaline in the blood!

Liszt: The Complete Hungarian Rhapsodies, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Colossal treasure!

Liszt: The Complete Hungarian Rhapsodies, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009IVL
Release Date: 1992-01-28

Tracks:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1 in E Major
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C Sharp minor
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3 in B flat Major
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 4 in E flat Major
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 in E minor
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D flat Major
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 7 in D minor
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 8 in F sharp minor

Customer Reviews:

Colossal treasure!.......2005-05-12

The unforgettable Edith Farnadi was undoubtedly the major female Hungarian pianist in the first half of the XX Century. She won more than deservedly twice the Liszt Competition in the thirties.
His playing brings us the efussiveness and the true essence of the Hungarian sketches without affections but a real sense of this special commitment you will find it in the first bars.
I have not heard until now any superior version of Liszt's Sonata in B minor, after having listened her. Go for this album and you will be surprised.

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