Liszt: Années de pèlerinage (Complete Recording) [Import]

Track Listings

1. Cd 1 / Premere Annee: Suisse

2. Cd 2 / Deuxieme Annee: Italie

3. Cd 3 / Troisieme Annee

Tracks:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C-Sharp Minor
Liebestraum No.3
Mephisto Waltz No.1
Funerailles (No.7 Of Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses)
Rigoletto: Conc Paraphrase
La Campanella

Tracks:

Die Forelle
Der Muller Und Der Bach
Wohin?
Lebe Wohl!
Das Wandern
Der Lindenbaum
Horch, Horch, Die Lerch
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen
Die Post
Aufenthalt
Lob Der Tranen
Erlkonig
I. Allegro Con Fuoco
II. Adagio
III. Presto
IV. Allegro

Tracks:

Lento Assai - Allegro Energico -
Andante Sostenuto
Allegro Energico - Andante Sostenuto - Lento Assai
Valse Impromptu
I. 'Hohe Liebe' In A flat
II. 'Selinger Tod' In E Flat
III. 'O Lieb' In A Flat
Grand Galop Chromatique

Tracks:

I. Sposalizio
II Penseroso
III. Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa
IV. Sonetto 47 Del Petrarca
V. Sonetto 104 Del Patrarca
VI. Sonetto 123: Del Petrarca
VII. Apres Une Lecture De Dance (Fant Quasi Son)

Tracks:

I. La Chapelle De Guillaume Tell
II. Au Lac De Wallenstadt
III. Pastorale
IV. Au Bord D'une Source
V. Orage
VI. Vallee D'Obermann
VII. Eglogue (Hirtengesang)
VIII. Le Mal Du Pays
IX. Les Cloches De Geneve

Tracks:

I Gondoliera
II. Canzone
III. Tarantella
Les Jeux D'eau A La Villa D'Este (No.4 Of Annees De Pelerinage, Troisieme Annee)
Benediction De Dieu Dans La Solitude: (No.3 Of Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses)
Ballade No.2 In B

Tracks:

I. Preludio: Presto
II. Molto Vivace
III. Paysage: Poco Adagio
IV. Mazeppa: Allegro
V. Feux Follets: Allegretto
VI. Vision: Lento
VII. Eroica: Allegro
VIII. Wilde Jagd: Presto Furioso
IX. Ricordanza: Andantino
X. Allegro Agitato Molto
XI. Harmonies Du Soir: Andantino
XII. Chasse-Neige: Andante Con Moto

Tracks:

Zwei Konzertetuden: I. Waldesrauschen
Zwei Konzertetuden: II. Gnomenreigen
I. Il Lamento
II. La Leggierezza
III. Un Sospiro
I. Andante Con Moto
II. Un Poco Piu Mosso
III. Lento Placido
IV. Quasi Adagio
V. Andantino
VI. Allegretto Sempre Cantabile
Reminiscences De Don Juan

Tracks:

Reminiscences De Norma
Totentanz (Danse Macabre)
Malediction
Fant On Hungarian Folk Themes

Customer Reviews:

Ethereal LIszt in Superb Sound.......2006-09-29

Piano playing of extraordinary romantic depth and breadth. Bolet is inside Liszt's mind, as Liszt's romantic self unfolds on the keyboard. It is as if Bolet is the master himself. Superlative recordings to boot!

A great collection of Liszt treasures.......2004-01-12

The booklet of this set has an interesting explanation of why Jorge Bolet stayed out of the spotlights for so long before taking up his -glorious- career. It was his devotion to Liszt. By then, in the 1950s, Liszt was still regarded as a B-composer (There are still people who tend to think so: I read someone who called Liszt `the father of all bar pianists'. Now, if you know a worse offence...). Only after Liszt's reputation had increased, Bolet could enter his `Indian summer', which lasted from about 1975 until his passing away in 1990. During this period, he was finally able to perform his favourite music as much as possible. This fine 9-disc set may indeed be Bolet's most important testament. Additionally, it's one of the most important Liszt collections on the market. But beware: there's much more than just Bolet, considering Liszt's piano works. I can't say this is the perfect set or near it. Still five stars, for some astonishing piano playing that we don't come across very often nowadays.

Bolet won a Gramophone Award for his 1st book of Années de Pelerinage, which is not strange when listening to the recordings. This is a portrait of a man who's entirely on his own, looking for his soul while wandering trough the beautiful Switzerland - I can't say it better than B. Johnson already did. It's Romantic nonsense, of course, but in Liszt's days it was a common idea, and it can still sweep me away. Bolet's superior tonal colouring - beautiful, but not too far-driven, for the risk it would almost be too intimidating - and his peaceful nature lift this music to the greatest heights. My only complaint would be the `Orage' piece: Bolet's technique can't quite handle it, and its aggressive nature is much less overwhelming as a result. Nevertheless, the rest of the pieces show him at his very best. So does the second year of the Années (that is oddly placed in the set before the first year by Decca). The Dante Sonata, one of Liszt's greatest pieces, fares very well under Bolet's hands.

Equally excellent were the Schubert Song Transcriptions. The transcriptions aren't very different from the original songs, but they are definitely interesting. Especially when someone like Bolet takes them under his hands! All songs are terrifically played, with real standouts like `Auf dem Wasser zu singen', `Der Mueller und der Bach' and `Erlkoenig'. Bolet's romantic touch (he may have been the last of his kind) lets the music unendingly flow. Brilliant!

These comments also apply to Liszt's Consolations, which are placed on another disc. Liszt shows here how much he's in debt to Schubert, and wrote music of a disarmingly lyrical nature. Bolet gives almost naively innocent readings of these pieces. Talking about singing music, why not include the Liebesträume, `Venezia e Napoli' and many, many other pieces as well. Although some people still regard Liszt as a bombastic composer, he was in fact much more active on the spiritual and lyrical area. It is largely this nature of Liszt that is put into the spotlights by Bolet. He is really terrific whenever music ought to sound peaceful and meditative.

But Liszt was also a stunning virtuoso. People may eschew him for that, but that's often without any good ground. The B minor Sonata and the Transcendental Etudes, to give some names, are not only pianistically but also musically amazing works. It takes to be both a good technician and a musician to play them well, and this is where Bolet occasionally fails. He was over 65 when he made these recordings, and I can't help but say that his technique was not anymore what it used to be. In many pieces you can hear him struggle.

In what may be the most difficult music Liszt wrote, the Transcendental Etudes, Bolet takes tempi that are almost too easy (e.g. no.10 should be `Allegro molto agitato' but Bolet plays it very moderately), perhaps because his technique was by then too limited to give the pieces a really impressive treatment. Even then, I do feel a ertain nobility in Bolet's slow approach that gives every study a dignified stature (and that's something you won't find with Kissin or Cziffra!). The sonata is similarly noble and yet tremendously powerful in its scope, even though Bolet may lack some technial control at isolated spots.

Anoter treacherous piece is the `Reminiscences de Don Juan', which is a transcription of no less an opera than -of course- Don Giovanni! Bolet plays this 20-minute piece with a lot of humour and swing: it's a great way to clean up your mind! Also recommendable are the Etudes de Concert (e.g. Waldesrauschen), whose light spirit is very well captured.

A treasure trove set overall, I can recommend it without any limitations. There's no other composer that suited Bolet as well as Liszt, and the vice versa may be true as well. But the pianist also has his weaker points, particularly regarding his technique, that wasn't what it used to be. Oh, and the piano sound is not always equally convincing: the instrument sounds a little shrill at times. But there's an amazing amount of colour in the instrument, and it allows Bolet to reachfor the deepest, darkest sonorities you've heard. This collection is therefore not just THE best Liszt: there are many more pianists who made supreme recordings of him (e.g. Arrau, Brendel, Richter) and I definitely recommend searching them out as well. After you've heard this!

An excellent collection of Liszt interpretations........2003-12-03

I was very impressed with Bolet's playing. His rendition of La Campanella is the best I've ever heard.

Liszt for the ages........2001-12-05

Both for those that would like to find out for the first time what Liszt is all about, and for those few that are very familiar with the Paganini of the 88: LOOK NO FURTHER!

It doesn't get any better than this.

After I heard throughout the seventies about this "unknown" great of the romantic repertoire, I was fortunate enough to see him for the first time about a month after he recorded the first issue of this now legendary Liszt series. While his technique may not have exactly been what it used to be before (e.g. Orage in Suisse of Les Annees), all the performances benefit from the wisdom of many, many years. While all the performances are of a uniform Olympic level, two issue stand out in my mind.

First, there is the cd of Schubert Liszt transcriptions. Bolet really sets the standards for "singing" on the piano. His version of "Der Muller und der Bach" has to be believed to be heard.

Most importantly though, there is "Suisse" the first year of Liszt's years of pilgrimage. I own this disc from the day it appeared on the shelves and still listen to it every month. Surely, there are more technically brilliant versions. For the true "Liszt Nuts", I would certainly advise Leslie Howard's version of "L'Album d'un voyageur", that contains the first version of many of the "Suisse" pieces, and some additional pieces that Frenz (for reasons that escape me completely) excluded from the later Suisse. Yet, nobody, not even Brendel or Berman, have come close to Bolet on delivering on the central theme of Suisse, man finding himself back in an exploration of nature.

While they stem from the earlier days of digital recording the recordings are still more than respectable and benefit greatly from Bolet's attention for color, aided by his favorite Bechstein.

Customer Reviews:

The tradition of the new!.......2006-05-08

Respect the egregious significance of Vladimir Horowitz for the great Western audiences, I really should notice that Europe had lived a Century and a half of reluctant Romanticism, while North America was in another historical process; the recent musical history began to write with two important composers: Edward Mac Dowell, a beloved and admired friend of Frau Carreno and Louis Moreau Gotschalk, who accustomed to make those Gargantuan recitals such as that famous Concert with more than one hundred pianists on stage. Indeed, this was an imported costume of those Ages, where the concept of listening music had lessened the value; the visible decay of the music in the second half of the XIX Century is more than obvious. The ominous presence of composers of the artistic height of Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler and Anton Bruckner were concentrated in Germany and Austria; Frank in Belgium and Max Reger in Swiss, but if you take a look around the musical triviality lived in the rest of Europe (with counted and isolated exceptions)where the fireworks of Liszt, Thalberg, and Alkan filled the Concert Halls in Paris, with the elusive music of Lalo or Jules Massenet and the arriving of the new Midas King of the great Halls, Strauss dynasty, included Waldteufel captivated the audiences.

The emotion for watching a piano virtuosi simply had not prize. You should remind the famous tour undertaken by Anton Rubinstein in the last years of the XIX Century. Horowitz contributed conscious or unconsciously to perpetuate the legend. Effectively, he marked a`personal style at the piano; if not let me refresh you these names: William Kapell, John Browning, Gary Graffman. Lori Hollander, Byron Janis, Van Cliburn and Leon Fleisher, were notably influenced with this style. And please tell me who in a sensate state of mind, would be able to send to Europe his promising son or daughter where the flaming wrecks of the WW1 were in the air and the expected fears of a next confrontation was still to come.

Schnabel was a particular exception, since he was hired as Docent in USA, but its influence was relatively small. We should wait to the early Fifties to appreciate other styles and approaches; Gilels, Richter from USRR, Badura Skoda, Demus and Gulda from Austria, but still remained confined for dilettantes the renowned figures such as Edwin Fisher, Michelangeli, Myra Hess and Wilhelm Kempff.

His playing caused true furor during almost four decades. Horowitz now belongs to the legend.

Mature Horowitz And The Best Liszt Sonetto 104.......2005-10-04

I have not much to add to the other reviews. Horowitz made some of his very best recordings when he was already more than 80 years old, and this 2CD (+DVD) set contains many of them, as well as the best recording of Liszt's Sonetto 104 that I know of, or am ever likely to hear.

Truly Magical.......2005-04-17

This album showcases the mighty Vladimir Horowitz in his last years. His life of music is definitive in these masterful interpretations. In these pieces, Mr. Horowitz displays many new ideas on some pieces that have been played, assumed successfully, continually in the same manner.

Two instances - Scriabin's Etude, Op. 8 No. 12 and Mozart's Rondo, K. 511. The maestro's entrance is softer and slower in the former, and in the latter, as stated in the studio chatter, he speeds up the tempo to make it less of a profound statement. It was Horowitz who chastised the new age of pianists on their attempts to play everything slow and prophetic. I believe it was Mr. Horowitz that told David Dubal "Only very few pieces are meant to be played slow" (after comparing performance times of major piano works from the early part of the 20th century to the later part, you will see the difference).

The DVD included in this package is wonderful, but for those who enjoy a more classic approach to the classical period - do not anticipate simple aural enjoyment. Do expect to see one of the greatest pianists ever work his magic at the piano. Do look forward to watching a master correct a mistake by another master. Do count on a memorable experience.

Stunning.......2004-08-01

Horowitz is simply stunning, and this compilation is an absolute jewel. The added bonus of the DVD performance of Mozart's 23rd is the icing on the cake.

The piano as an extension of consciousness.......2004-07-25

Mr. Drake has written the definitive review of this recording, but I want to add a few things.
In these recordings, the piano seems merely an extension of Horowitz's consciousness. The translation from his head and his heart to the piano is effortless, and filled with emotion. While listening to this CD, I understood that Horowitz's flawless technique stems not just from a complete knowledge of the pieces, but from his love of the music. He makes the music his own like no other.
This is inspirational music, played by the greatest master of his craft at the height of his powers.
An added bonus is the DVD which accompanies the 2 CD's, a video of the studio recording of Mozart's 23rd piano concerto. Horowitz, in his 80's, has the innocence of a child, playfully joking with the producer, the conductor, the page turner. When he plays, it is with a sense of joy that seems to accompany all of the recordings in this set.
The productions values here are excellent, typical Deutsche Grammophon.
I'd give this recording a 10 if I could.

Average customer rating:

Very good BUT....Improv in Liszt??
Liszt presented in all his magnificence
Lisztmania
Vital; impeccable; a treasure trove
Good - but where's the poetry?

The Best Of Liszt

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Liszt: Favourite Piano Works
Chopin: Favorite Piano Works
Liszt: The Two Piano Concertos; The Piano Sonata
Liszt: 10 Hungarian Rhapsodies
Liszt: The Complete Etudes

ASIN: B0000041D2
Release Date: 1996-02-13

Tracks:

Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Die Loreley
Hungarian Rhapsody No.11 In A Minor: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 In A Minor
Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: No. 7 Funerailles
Schwanengesang: No. 1 Liebesbotschaft
Annees de pelerinage: Premiere annee: No. 4 Au bord d'une source
3 Etudes de Concert: No. 3 Un sospiro
Liebestraum No. 3 In A flat
Etudes d' execution transcendante: No. 3 In G Sharp Minor 'La campanella'
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 In C Sharp Minor
3 Etudes de Concert: No. 2 La leggierezza
Annees de pelerinage: Troisieme annee: No. 4 Les jeux d'eaux a la Villa d'Este

Tracks:

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 In C Sharp Minor
Fantasia On The Waltz from Gounod's 'Faust'
Valse oubliee No. 1 In F Sharp
Valse oubliee No. 2 In A Flat
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 In A Minor
Annees de pelerinage: Premiere annee: No. 6 Vallee d'Obermann
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 14 In F Minor
Annees de pelerinage: Premiere annee: No. 7 Eglogue
Widmung
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 In D Flat

Customer Reviews:

Very good BUT....Improv in Liszt??.......2005-08-24

I find for the most part this is an excellent recording and "La Campanella" is breakthaking in its rhythmic dynamics and especially in the upper keyboard trills that are so much a part of this piece's intense virtuosity. I wish someone would reissue Gary Graffman's long out-of-print recording of this piece. I recall it being the best I ever heard.
Where I have serious reservations is in Dichter's playing of the etude "Un Sospiro". I am open to being corrected but where in the world did he come up with the insertion of a 4 or 5 bar improvisation before the recapitulation of the theme? I've never heard that before. But for overall GRAND Liszt playing, I agree with the on-line reviewers-nothing beats the Jorge Bolet recordings.

Liszt presented in all his magnificence.......2005-01-03

There are a ton of great, well-known pieces on this 2-CD set, and it's a fantastic deal! Very beautiful in all respects except that, I agree with the reviewer below--the DB range of playing is not as wide or dynamic as it should be. It would be better if it was a bit HARDER and more powerful!--this is essential for the passion and intensity that Liszt created. Also, Mephisto Waltz seems to have been shortened. But all in all, good collection at a good price.

Lisztmania.......2004-06-01

This Phillips label compact disc presents us with many fine works for piano by the incredible Franz Liszt (1811-1886) who together with Frederic Chopin revolutionzed the piano for the 19th century. On here are the Mephisto Waltz, Hungarian Rhapsodies No. 1-12, Etudes, Valses and transcriptions from Paganini's La Campanella and the Waltz from Gounod's opera Faust.
I like to think that the first cd, tracks 1-10 represents the softer side of Liszt. His friendship with Frederic Chopin influenced his lighter, romantic and nocturnal type of music, which are found in such works as Schwanengesang (Swan Song) "Un Sospiro" and Les Jeux D'Eux A La Villa D'Este. The second cd, tracks 1-10 represent some of the more dramatic and intense works for piano, among them the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C Sharp Minor, which opens the second cd. The work has been orchestrated, it's polyphonic festive mood has been used in the Looney Tunes cartoons. It is meant to describe the folk dancing of Hungary. The Fantasia on the Waltz from Gounod's Faust is incredibly demanding and sweeping, beautiful in this rendition. All the works are performed by the piano artist Misha Dichter. Although to be quite honest, this is not the best of Franz Liszt per se. It only provides us with high quality piano works. But Liszt was more than a radical new pianist, he was also a fine orchestral conductor. He invented the symphonic poem, or tone poem, which was greatly used in the 19th century, influencing such composers as Tchaikovsky, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. Why did'nt they have Liszt's great symphonic poems the Dante Symphony and the Faust Symphony ? Also the Dance Of Death Totentanz should have been here, also his fantastic piano concerto. These days, it's hard to find a great interpreter of Franz Liszt. So much of his music is out of this world. It feels like only an octupus with millions of hands and fingers would aptly play his complex, multi-melodic score.

Vital; impeccable; a treasure trove.......2002-10-17

I've lived with this CD, and similar Liszt CD's by artists of equal fame, for at least two years. My admiration -- my gratitude -- for this one rises with each listening. I believe that Liszt would be very grateful for these performances, could he hear them. It is difficult to imagine a pianist serving a composer more thoroughly than Dichter does here. There is no careless note, yet no faltering in momentum or vitality. Dichter has mastered the music, yet remains its servant. His performances of the few meditative pieces on this CD are as impeccable as his work on the many bravura ones; deeply felt, and tastefully expressed. This seems a treasure house to me; its length is 145 minutes. The engineers have depressed or compressed the dynamic range, I think; there is not enough difference between piano and forte for my taste... I am perhaps equally fond of Philips' 2-disc edition of Liszt's Annees de Pelerinage I-III, performed by Brendel and Kocsis, 289-462-312-2. Philips' 2-disc edition of Lizts's etudes, with Arrau and Magaloff, is of less interest to me at this time; I suppose this is my reaction to the compositions themselves.

Good - but where's the poetry?.......2001-05-11

A very good and recommended recording. The only thing I miss is more lyricism. Traditionalists may argue that lyricism has little place in Liszt, but look and listen! There are lots of beautiful melodic passages that need carefull attention to phrasing and tone. It would make this recording milder and sweeter to the ear. But as far as the virtuosity is concerned, no complaints. But don't forget, you can only be flashy for so long before it gets dull....!

Claudio Arrau 3 (III) (Great Pianists of the Century series) - Chopin / Debussy / Granados / Liszt / Mozart / Schubert (2 CDs)

Average customer rating:

A genius of poetry
The Sublime and The Ridiculous

Claudio Arrau 3 (III) (Great Pianists of the Century series) - Chopin / Debussy / Granados / Liszt / Mozart / Schubert (2 CDs)

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Daniel Barenboim
Artur Schnabel
Shura Cherkassky
Rudolf Serkin
Andrei Gavrilov

ASIN: B00000JNPW
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Tracks:

Preludes, Op. 28: No. 1 In C
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 2 In A Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 3 In G
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 4 In E Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 5 In D
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 6 In B Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 7 In A
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 8 In F Sharp Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 9 In E
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 10 In C Sharp Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 11 In B
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 12 In G Sharp Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat 'Raindrop'
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 19 In E Flat
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 20 In C Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 21 In B Flat
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 22 In G Minor
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 23 In F
Preludes, Op. 28: No. 24 In D Minor
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 45 - Chopin
Prelude In A Flat, Op. Posth. - Chopin
Nocturnes, Op. 48: No. 1 In C Minor
Nocturnes, Op. 48: No. 2 In F Sharp Minor
Quejas O La Maja Y El Ruisenor (From: Goyescas)
Aida: Danza Sacra E Duetto Final

Tracks:

Ann de prinage, Premi ann Suisse: Vallee D' Obermann
Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 1 In C
Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 2 In A Flat
Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 3 In F Minor
Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 4 In C Sharp Minor
Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 5 In F Minor
Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 6 In A Flat
Images, Book 2: Cloches A Travers Les Feuilles
Images, Book 2: Et La Lune Descend Sur Le Temple Qui Fut
Images, Book 2: Poissons D'Or
Fantasia In C minor, KV 475 - Mozart

Customer Reviews:

A genius of poetry.......2005-05-28

Contrary to the bitter reviewer below, I find these collected perormances by Claudio Arrau to be wonderful. His tone and poetic intrepretation are on full display; something that "music lovers" will take full note of. His Debussy is the best!! The three editions of the series are great, and I advise all readers to avoid jaded and biased reviews. i.e. below

The Sublime and The Ridiculous.......2001-11-27

This set is truly a mixed bag. The Chopin Preludes are generally unsatisfactory; at best rather boring, with little invention (although his tone shines through admirably), at worst stodgy and choked. The crowning glory of the record is his rendition of Vallee d'Obermann; the colours, tone and sense of line here are remarkable and it is perfectly organised. The Debussy is not bad - the lack of ideas is compensated for by the man's exceptional richness of tone. When one listens to the Schubert Moments Musicaux as recorded by the aged Arrau, it is difficult to see why Philips continued recording with him. The reading is staid, turgid and plodding, with dreadfully mannered phrasing and articulation. Again, his tone almost comes to the rescue, but it's fighting a lost cause; these performances are nausea inducing and worthy of mockery - they must be avoided at all costs, especially since there are thousands of other superb versions (Richter, for example). If nothing else, they will make you laugh.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Reissue

Liszt: Works for Piano

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007RO56G
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks:

Ballade No.2 In B Minor - Earl Wild
Tarantelle Di Bravura - Earl Wild
Sonetto Del Petrarca No.104 - Earl Wild
Sonetto Del Petrarca No.123 - Earl Wild
Valse Oubliee No.1 - Earl Wild
La Campanella - Earl Wild
Feux Follets - Earl Wild
Ricordanza - Earl Wild
Paysage - David Wilde
La Chasse - David Wilde
Waldesrauschen - David Wilde
Gnomenreigen - David Wilde

Tracks:

Rhapsodie Espagnole - David Wilde
Isoldes Liebestod - David Wilde
Reminiscences De Norma - David Wilde
Hexameron - Sylvia Kersenbaum
Valse Infernale - Sylvia Kersenbaum
Polonaise - Sylvia Kersenbaum

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Reissue.......2005-08-20

This is a reissue of Earl Wild that was only available before on cassette under the Quintessence label. His playing is impeccable. The 2nd Ballad is the best ever recorded. His amazing technical and musical gifts are on display, recording quality good. A must have for the Liszt collector.

Liszt: Annees de pelerinage, Years 1 - 3

Average customer rating:

A divine pilgrimage
I can tell this will become one of my favorite CDs
Excellent Kocsis, Forget the Brendel
Excellent Kocsis, Forget the Brendel
An abomination!

Liszt: Annees de pelerinage, Years 1 - 3

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Franz Liszt: Années De Pèlerinage
Liszt: The Complete Etudes
Liszt: Piano Works
Liszt: Favourite Piano Works
Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words, etc.

ASIN: B00000HY8L
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

Premiere annee: Suisse: 1. La Chapelle de Guillaume Tell
Premiere annee: Suisse: 2. Au lac de Wallenstadt
Premiere annee: Suisse: 3. Pastorale
Premiere annee: Suisse: 4. Au bord d'une source
Premiere annee: Suisse: 5. Orage
Premiere annee: Suisse: 6. Vallee d'Obermann
Premiere annee: Suisse: 7. Eglogue
Premiere annee: Suisse: 8. Le mal du pays
Premiere annee: Suisse: 9. Les cloches de Geneve
Deuxieme annee: Italie: 1. Sposalizio
Deuxieme annee: Italie: 2. Il penseroso
Deuxieme annee: Italie: 3. Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa
Deuxieme annee: Italie: 4. Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Deuxieme annee: Italie: 5. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Deuxieme annee: Italie: 6. Sonetto 123 del Petrarca

Tracks:

Deuxieme annee: Italie: 7. Apres une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata)
Troisieme annee: 1. Angelus! (Priere aux anges gardiens)
Troisieme annee: 2. Aux cypres de la Villa d'Este, No 1 (Threnodie)
Troisieme annee: 3. Aux cypres de la Villa d'Este, No 2 (Threnodie)
Troisieme annee: 4. Les jeux d'eau a la Villa d'Este
Troisieme annee: 5. Sunt lacrymae rerum (En mode hongrois)
Troisieme annee: 6. Marche funebre (En memoire de Maximilien I)
Troisieme annee: 7. Sursum corda (Erhebet eure Herzen)

Customer Reviews:

A divine pilgrimage.......2003-07-31

The story of the Years of Pilgrimage is very interesting in itself, let alone the music. The first year, Switzerland, is my favorite, and Brendel executes it beautifully. The Switzerland Liszt presents to us is loaded with thunderstorms (orage), springs (Au bord d'une source), lakes (Au lac de Wallenstadt), bells (Le cloches de Geneve), and other beautiful settings and objects. The roaring octaves of the "orage" was a great virtuosic treat. The most famous (and longest) piece by far in the first year is the Vallee d'Obermann, whose harmonies are incredibly beautiful.

The second year is really the cultural aspect of Italy. (no settings or anything like that) This year deals with Raphael, Michelangelo, Salvator Rosa, Petrarch, and lastly, (but very certainly not least) Dante. Brendel's Dante was hellish and divine. The Dante Fantasy suprised me when I first heard it, because I thought the piece would start with this picture in your mind of Dante roaming around in a very bitter woods, but it did not for me. Many times in the hellish sections of this piece it turns into major, which startled me because I though the part that depicted hell would be all in minor, but for a lot of the time it was not. Many times you could find out when it was heaven, sometimes with purgatory too. But most of the dante sonata summarizes the whole divine commedy altogether, and what Dante saw, learned, and how much wisdom he gained.The end of this piece is truly captivating, and like I said, the ending doesnt seem exactly heavenly, but rather, a sense of knowing Heaven, purgatory, and hell.

The third year is a later work of Franz Liszt, and is very interestng. Zoltan Kocsis takes up the feat of learning this year, and succeeds. All I knew of Zoltan Kocsis was his Bartok, so this was a wonderful surprise. Mostly what I knew of Franz Liszt's later music was his "Bagatelle Without Tonality", and nuage gris, so this suprised me. Angels, a funeral march, crying, ect. are depicted in the third year. The whole set of the years of pilgrimage concludes with the very interesting title "Lift up your Hearts", what probably says that when Liszt was in sixties and composing this, he knew (for a long time already) that life on this earth is not so bad if there are places like Switzerland and Italy, and if there are people on this wonderful earth who inspire others.

I can tell this will become one of my favorite CDs.......2003-01-18

Having played these three books of "Annees de Pelerinage" myself, and having written a thesis on them, I know these three "Annees" inside and out. I've also heard some incredibly BAD performances of some of these pieces (in particular, the "Dante" Sonata) and as such, I have "shields up" around me when I hear recitals or recordings with these pieces on them.

If you are like "Music Fan" from Clicksville, Kentucky, and you like your Liszt played with as much bombast and pyrotechnics as possible, you probably won't like these recordings. (These are also the kinds of recitals and recordings I do my best to avoid.)

If, on the other hand, you like your Liszt played with some restraint and with utmost sensitivity to the composer's musical intent -- you'll probably love these performances!

I, for one, have long since tired of hearing Liszt pounded out on a piano by technicians who are intent solely on making his pieces look - and sound - as difficult as possible, with next to no attention to the musicality behind the pyrotechnics. Liszt is all too often played by these hacks as though the technique is the means AND the end - and the music suffers.

This is an altogether different kind of Liszt-playing - where the technique is a means to a definite musical end. It works. Brendel's "Suisse" is enchanting: I can't remember when I've heard "Au bord d'une source" and "Les cloches de Geneve" played so evocatively. "Spozalizio" (from "Italia") and the three Petrarch sonnets are utterly spellbinding.

The most amazing Brendel performance is "Apres une lecture du Dante" - a piece I've learned to hate because of the way pianists overplay the thing! Brendel handles this piece with enough restraint so that the real musicality of the piece shines through. Brendel makes by far the most convincing case for the "Dante Sonata" I've heard in a LONG time.

Equally good is the Kocsis "Troiseme Annee". I have played this Annee many times in recitals, yet Kocsis' performance gave me several new ideas, particularly in "Aux cypres de la Villa d'Este, No 1" and the quixotic "Marche funebre (En memoire de Maximilien I)". The "Marche funebre" is a challenging piece to hold together, musically; and even more challenging to pull off during performance. The Kocsis performance of this piece works better than anything I've heard (or performed).

I prefer a slower tempo and somewhat more restrained, "profound" concept in "Sursum Corda" - but Kocsis manages to pull off his ideas and make them work. It may not be my interpretation of the piece - but it's an interpretation which works, and I respect that.

These performances might not be everyone's cup of tea - but I can say for what I've heard, both in live performance and on recording - this is the most gratifying performance of the complete "Annees" I've yet heard. This is destined to become one of my favorites CDs.

Excellent Kocsis, Forget the Brendel.......2002-07-20

Now that, sadly enough, even his reference-quality Bartok and Debussy recordings no longer seem to be available in this country, this compilation disc remains a precious and rare chance to hear the marvellous pianism of the better of the two Hungarian virtuosos traversing the international concert circuit, Zoltan Kocsis (the other one being the vastly overrated Andras Schiff).

Kocsis's capabilities are boundless and he is easily one of the greatest talents of his generation, limited in his quest to fame only by his occasionally eccentric tastes and individual temperament. Here, however, in the strange, atmospheric piano pieces Liszt composed towards the end of his life, Kocsis is in his own element and makes these bleak and fascinating works sound like no one else would have a claim to them. The recording is altogether hypnotic and reveals the late Liszt as a master of the quasi-impressionistic short form, with an atmospheric piano sound to enhance the experience of these serene and oddly ecstatic pieces that reveal the world-weary face of the aging composer in search of a language for his resigned, retrospective state. Add to these performances the late pieces recorded live by Pollini in his own Liszt disc (including also a chilling version of the great B minor sonata, DG 427 322-2) and you have a full reference library for your dark existential moments. Very private, silencing and thought-provoking.

Brendel's weird tone production does not at all suit the exuberant first two books of the Annees from Liszt's younger years. Yet the five stars are more than well earned, thanks to Kocsis's impressive ability to faithfully reproduce the subtle interplay of ambiguous beauty and shadowy doubt so much in evidence in these works.

An otherwise good alternative recording of the third book, made in the analog years by Lazar Berman (DG, budget price) suffers from inferior sound quality - a big "but" in these ethereal and fragile pieces ideally suited for the well-balanced, close yet airy Philips recording that wonderfully captures all the nuances of Kocsis's spectacular piano playing.

Excellent Kocsis, Forget the Brendel.......2002-07-20

Kocsis's capabilities are boundless and he is easily one of the greatest talents of his generation, limited in his quest to fame only by his occasionally eccentric tastes and individual temperament. Here, however, in the strange, atmospheric piano pieces Liszt composed towards the end of his life, Kocsis is in his own element and makes these bleak and fascinating short works sound like no one else would have a claim to them. The recording is altogether hypnotic and reveals the late Liszt as a master of the quasi-impressionistic miniature form, with an atmospheric piano sound to enhance the experience of these serene and oddly ecstatic pieces that reveal the world-weary face of the aging composer in search of a language for his resigned, retrospective state. Add to these performances the late pieces recorded live by Pollini in his Liszt disc (including also a chilling B Minor Sonata, DG 427 322-2) and you have a full reference library for your dark existential moments. Silencing and thought-provoking.

An abomination!.......2001-01-01

This is perhaps the most affected, unnatural Liszt playing I have ever heard aside from Dieter Goldman's legendary performance of Funerailles (and at least that has a sense of humour). Brendel's tone is appallingly thin and unevocative, and his reading of Chapelle de Guillaume Tell lacks any of the sonorous chordal passages to be found, say, in Berman's interpretation. Au bord d'une source is worryingly neurotic, while Cloches de Geneve seems to have lost its "cloches" altogether. The Italian book is even worse. Brendel's response to the emotionalistic Petrarch Sonnets is altogether dry and uninviting, and his Dante Sonata comes nowhere near Sofronitsky's demonism and high moral stance. Vallee d'Obermann? As with Brendel's legendary Legende: oom-bah, oom-bah oom-bah, oom-bah.... After this display of heroic misunderstanding, Kocsis' playing should surely rise above his companion's. Sadly, my list of his qualities is forced into insignificance. Imagination, for instance, is not one of his strongpoints. Colour? Kocsis hasn't even heard of it. Jeux d'eau displays no religious ecstasy of any sort; Sursum corda is fairly boring; Cypres 2 is unutterably awful. Please, please, do not desecrate this music. By the way, a passing message to Philips: don't publish any Arrau after 1970, except if you enjoy it for comedy value.

Average customer rating:

Liszt's unrivalled piano compositions
Good alternative to Berman, Cziffra, Bolet, et al.
Beautiful bargain Liszt

Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage, Vol. 3 (Third Year)
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Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies, Vol. 1

ASIN: B0000013TS
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sposalizio (Marriage Of The Virgin)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Il pensieroso (The Thinker)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa (Canzonetta Of Salvator Rosa)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sonetto 47 del Petrarca (Sonnet 47 Of Petrarch)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sonetto 104 del Petrarca (Sonnet 104 Of Petrarch)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Sonetto 123 del Petrarca (Sonnet 123 Of Petrarch)
deuxieme annee: italie (Second Year: Italy): Apres une lecture du Dante, fantasia quasi una sonata (After Reading Dante)
venezia e napoli (Venice And Naples): Gondoliera (Gondolier's Song)
venezia e napoli (Venice And Naples): Canzone (Song)
venezia e napoli (Venice And Naples): Tarantella

Customer Reviews:

Liszt's unrivalled piano compositions.......2006-08-28

Jeno Jando has been a staunch and first-class Liszt champion for Naxos. Recording some impeccable interpretations for the Complete Piano Music of Liszt series, he's also recorded all three books of the Annees de Pelerinage. The first book was given a stellar approach and interpretation; the second book (or second year) here proves to be just as great. Jando's use of shading and his meticulous attention to effects make for some incredible executions.

Take the "Sposalizio," with its amorous poetry and romantic mood, capped off by an uplifting Lisztian conclusion. Jando plays it with purity and a refined touch. The "Il Penseroso" is probably the best overall delivery of this melancholy composition. While Berman and Bolet have their own unique style, Jando plays it quietly and with a morose sentimentality. When the lower bass must be explored, Jando does not *pound*, but he *pushes* into the keys to create a blanket of darkness. The "Canzonetta del Salvatore Rosa" is unfortunately not one of the most original or interesting of the set. It has its charms and rhythmic delight, but fails to say much else; it's not wholly bad but not impressive either. The "Sonnetto 47 del Petrarca" is a different story: This piece speaks volumes of tenderness and affection. The underlying melody is as captivating as a Chopin prelude or nocturne, and Jando emphasizes the exquisite Lisztian touch of dramatic passion.

The "Sonetto 104 del Petrarca" is another moving work of picturesque quality. It speaks like a love letter or poem, a sublime model of Liszt's effective romantic style. Chopin wasn't the only master; Liszt also delivers the most sentimental and rapturous bars of music here. Again, Jando plays with enthusiasm, yet never rushes to the end; he plays like he enjoys listening to the music. The last Petrarch "Sonetto 123" is the most lyrical of them all, summoning ecstasy and love-sick feelings from the piano. These, along with his Liebestraumes and Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses are his fine contributions to the romantically-charged pieces in the Romantic piano literature. The music here, with its lovely emotions and embellished romance mingle together to create a breathtaking fresco.

A stark and mind-blowing contrast to the prior works occurs when Liszt's great Dante Sonata, or "Apres une lecture du Dante" opens with its ominous tritone octave chords. For those unfamiliar with this work: It is one of Liszt's masterpieces on piano, as original and inspired as his Sonata in B minor, and if I may say so, one of the greatest "Sonata's" in the Romantic era. Who else has achieved such artistic mastery of conjuring images like this? Liszt's work is one of visionary innovation and power: Tell me you don't imagine Hell with all the swirling and descending chromatic octaves, played with blistering force and dark emotions from Jando. Screams, pain, shadows, pummeling winds against the sinners, the dread that Dante feels: Liszt elevates Dante's great literary visions to the highest musical degree. When Hell's musical depiction is complete, Liszt attains an even higher level of imagery when he plays the "Francesa and Paolo" themes. If you listen carefully, you can actually *hear* Francesa speak, telling her sad story of doomed-love. Then, amazingly, the music convincingly portrays Dante's feelings regarding the tale. The gentle bars of nostalgic and gloomy music move back into the whirling tones of Hell, and the piece ends with a final glimpse of Heaven and the triumph of Dante's journey out of it. This is a monumental work that leaves me stunned. Those already familiar with this work know what I'm talking about, but I implore anyone who has not heard this to experience this colossal and extraordinary music. Jando, in my opinion, plays it better than Bolet's which is, unfortunately, the only version I'm familiar with besides Jando's.

The Venezia e Napoli here is of exceptional musical worth. I find all three pieces beautiful and enthralling. The "Gondoliera" is idyllic and mesmerizing, played with color and dynamism by Jando. The following "Canzone" is exotic and visceral. It follows the trend of being a murky and gray piece; played with just the appropriate tempo and emphasis of the theme on Jando's part. As a final thrilling encore, Jando performs the "Tarentella" with aplomb and virtuosic splendor. Ultimately, the piece is an explosion of electrifying rhythm and shattering ecstatic chords. Musically it provides excitement and interest; I love it.

Bottom line: Jando and Naxos have once again made a high-quality disc of excellence: the sound-engineering leaves nothing to be desired and the music is the best of its kind. Liszt's greatest piano compositions can be found here. While those already familiar with the works may not care to buy this (usually those familiar with Bolet or Berman like to stick to their guy). But those who have not yet heard this music from Liszt and/or are curious, I definitely recommend this recording, a disc that predominantly consists of masterpieces.

Good alternative to Berman, Cziffra, Bolet, et al........2004-02-05

Naxos' "in-house pianist" turns out a more than satisfactory performance in this second volume of three "Years of Pilgrimage" albums, in part due to the comparative lack of pastoral imagery--lyricism is not Jando's forte. Received a Penguin Rosette (for what it's worth). Recorded sound is fine, with Venezia e Napoli being the standout performance on this disc.

Beautiful bargain Liszt.......2000-06-09

Jando's "Years of Pilgrimage" is the finest budget version available, as good as Jerome Rose's is on Vox. Passionate performances, gorgeous sound. My favorite Liszt piano music, actually. This music presages Debussy and Ravel and no piano-lover should be without it.

Average customer rating:

The hyper steeled fingering !
A Pianist So Close to Richter and Gilel
Liszt Played By A Russian Piano Master.
A fine complete set of the Liszt Annees de perelinage
A good set but still lacking some ...

Franz Liszt: Années De Pèlerinage

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Annees de Pelerinage, Complete
Lazar Berman Edition (Box Set)
Liszt: Annees de pelerinage, Years 1 - 3
Franz Liszt: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1
Liszt: The Complete Etudes

ASIN: B000001GHB
Release Date: 1993-03-16

Tracks:

Premiere annee: Suisse: Chapelle de Guillaume Tell
Premiere annee: Suisse: Au lac de Wallenstadt
Premiere annee: Suisse: Pastorale
Premiere annee: Suisse: Au bord d'une source
Premiere annee: Suisse: Orage
Premiere annee: Suisse: Vallee d'Obermann
Premiere annee: Suisse: Eglogue (Hirtengesang)
Premiere annee: Suisse: Le Mal du pays
Premiere annee: Suisse: Les Cloches de Geneve (Nocturne)

Tracks:

Deuxieme annee: Italie: Sposalizio
Deuxieme annee: Italie: Il Penseroso
Deuxieme annee: Italie: Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa
Deuxieme annee: Italie: Sonetto 47 del Petrerca
Deuxieme annee: Italie: Sonetto 104 del Petrerca
Deuxieme annee: Italie: Sonetto 123 del Petrerca
Deuxieme annee: Italie: Apres une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata)
Supplement aux 'Annees de Pelerinage' 2nd volume: Venezia E Napoli: Gondoliera
Supplement aux 'Annees de Pelerinage' 2nd volume: Venezia E Napoli: Canzone
Supplement aux 'Annees de Pelerinage' 2nd volume: Venezia E Napoli: Tarantella

Tracks:

Troisieme annee: Angelus! (Priere aux anges gardiens)
Troisieme annee: Aux Cypres de la Villa d'Este, No.1 Threnodie
Troisieme annee: Aux Cypres de la Villa d'Este, No.2 Threnodie
Troisieme annee: Les Jeux d'eaux a la Villa d'Este
Troisieme annee: Sunt lacrymae rerum (En mode hongroise)
Troisieme annee: Marche funebre (En memoire de Maximilien I)
Troisieme annee: Sursum corda (Erhebet eure Herzen)

Customer Reviews:

The hyper steeled fingering !.......2006-07-11

The generation of Russian pianists who were born after the WW2, seemed to have three clear patterns of visions around the paying of the piano: The imaginative rapture and the ability to create risky lyrical flights a la Sviatoslav Richter (Alexander Sloboyadnik, Vladimir Ashkneazy, Vladimir Felstman and Michael Plentev), the rational gaze based on a Apollonian vision whose main exponent was Emil Gilels ( Lazar Berman, Grigori Sokolov and Schura Cherkasky) and finally the cosmic rapture which plainly finds in Tatiana Nikolayeva her most conspicuous Ambassador.

Such approach results very appropriate at the moment to play certain Liszt' s scores, or nonromantic composers such as Medtner, Alkan, Prokoviev or Bartok.

That's why those performances of Pilgrimage years work out, because the inner visions may be reformulated and extrapolated.

I had the pleasant occasion to watch Lazar Berman in 1993 n Caracas. It was a mesmerizing experience; a prodigious technique although certain passages he looked extremely rational, trying to avoid the limits of the exuberance tonal, owning total control of the thematic material, a risky device that may become a boomerang in determined composers.

If you want to hear Liszt without theatrical postures and overindulgence, come for this album.

A Pianist So Close to Richter and Gilel.......2005-06-17

Few pianists have recorded all the 3 volumes of Pelerinage, as they are so dark. And in case viewers are not too familiar with Berman's playing, I suggest them to start with his Italian Book first (2nd CD)--it is really beautiful-- before going onto the first CD and eventually the third. Better still, go over it all over again. This way one would have a better understanding of Berman's musical language. Otherwise, some viewers may find his reading unmusical, or even sluggish or boring: somewhat like some of Arrau's Beethoven early sonatas when the tempi are getting so slow...

Having said that, I nevertheless prefer Arrau's version (extracts only) more as the message comes through more naturally and more convincingly; Arrau's also sounds more orchestral as in accordance with Lizst's intention. But Berman's version is interesting and even more embittered so that it would sometimes be hard to relate his playing with the description in the inlay. Nevertheless, his Italian Book is magical. Listen to these recordings and you will find plenty of justifications for Gilel to say Berman was the best pianist among them, better than himself and better than Richter!

Liszt Played By A Russian Piano Master........2004-11-27

Unfortunately, many reviewers on Amazon did not rate these recordings of Lazar Berman playing Franz Liszt's "Annees De Pelerinage" very favorably. I must respectfully disagree. I found Berman's Liszt interpretations commanding and magical.

It has been a while since I listened to the "Swiss Book" (Book 1) of the "Years of Pilgrimage," so I will add an addendum after I go back and listen carefully.

However, the "Italian Book" (Book 2) is amazing. Berman plays as if he is completely and totally absorbed in the piano music. His touch is very sensitive and emotion-provoking, yet he can deliver pianistic storms when he chooses. The "Petrarch Sonnets" are beautifully played, and the most sensitive listeners will cry upon hearing such deep, beautiful, reflective music. Berman goes beyond the notes and truly delivers musical sonnets. He plays with great lyricism, poetry, control, and nostalgia.

Then, Berman gives a tempestuous reading of the "After a Reading of Dante" (the "Dante" Sonata). He really lets loose and shows his technique, power, and passion. Berman handles the runs and monstrous difficulties well, and he goes beyond just being a mechanical technician. I disagree with people who state that Lazar Berman was merely a "piano technician." The "Dante" Sonata shows him to be that and much more.

The Third Book of "Years of Pilgrimage," untitled, offers some of the most reflective and forward-looking piano compositions of Franz Liszt. The opening work, "Angelus," evokes church bells and a sort of meditation on religious faith. It tinkles, sparkles, and draws listeners away from worldly concerns and planes of thought. Berman really sparkles, shines, and communicates with "Angelus." If you enjoy the piano music of Claude Debussy, you can really appreciate the advancement in Liszt's composition.

The next two pieces are based on the cypress trees that Liszt was impressed by while he and his mistress, Comtesse Marie D'Agoult, saw and admired while they eloped to Italy. Berman plays them beautifully, and the same nostalgic, detached, distant atmosphere of "Angelus" is present. I seem to remember quite a bit of musical turbulence communicated by Berman in the first of these pieces.

Many musicians and listeners are well-acquainted with the "Jeux Deau a La Ville D'Este," the water fountain piece that has been cited as an important precursor to Debussy and Ravel (the latter wrote a beautiful, sparkling piece of the same name--"Jeux Deau"). Berman plays the rapid arpeggios with crystalline clarity and evokes the powerful, upward bursts of water from an Italian fountain. The piece is brilliant, and Berman plays with great technical mastery and evocation.

I will add more about this boxed set later. I listened to it completely a year ago, and then I listened to the Second and Third Books again last week. However, I would like to hear the "Swiss Book" again, as well as the supplement to the Second Book, "Venezia e Napoli," so I can write more about those particular works.

All in all, this is an outstanding set of recordings, and listeners who are interested should not hesitate! Also, if you are interested in Franz Liszt's "Transcendental Etudes," I recommend the Berman recordings. Type in "Lazar Berman" on amazon, and scroll down to the second or third page of listings. Look for a CD with piano keys on the cover and the title, "The Russian School." It is hard to find, and you will most likely have to buy it used, but I recommend it. It is astounding!

A fine complete set of the Liszt Annees de perelinage.......2003-12-25

This is an excellent complete set of Liszt's Years of Pilgrimage. There are very few recordings of it complete. This recording by Berman is technically solid and musically satisfying. Of course there are recordings of individual pieces from the work here and there which are played far better than Berman. But as a whole I would definently recommend this to anyone who wants to become more familiar with the music of Liszt.

A good set but still lacking some ..........2001-01-14

The first thing I have to admit is DG always makes beautiful and handsome boxed set. You can see illustrations and good essay about these masterpieces. Congratulation to Berman that he finished all pieces from 3 years of Liszt's pilgrimage with passionate and careful interpretation. I like very much the Vallee d'Obermann, Apres une lecture du Dante, and Tarentella. But as Simone said in another review, it still lacks some special features that only Horowitz can make. The problem that I have to rank this set 4 stars is the bad sound quality. You should buy it for collection because it seems the only complete set of Annee de pelerinage beatifully-made in a 3CDs set.

Average customer rating:

Good songs, weird artist
The best of the three GPC\Kempff
Beethoven and beyond
Broud and Resounding Music-Making!! From another world.

Wilhelm Kempff 2
Franz Schubert , Ludwig van Beethoven , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Franz Liszt , Johann Sebastian Bach , Bamberg Symphony Chorus , Ferdinand Leitner , and Wilhelm Kempff
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Vladimir Sofronitsky
Rosalyn Tureck 2

ASIN: B00000IIY1
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Piano Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 1. Moderato
Piano Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 2. Adante, poco mosso
Piano Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 3. Scherzo, Allegro vivace
Piano Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 4. Rondo. Allegro vivace
Piano Sonata In E Minor, Op. 90: 1. Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck
Piano Sonata In E Minor, Op. 90: 2. Nitch zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: 2. Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, KV 488: 3. Allegro assai

Tracks:

Deux Legendes: 1. Saint Francois d'Assise: la predication aux oiseauz
Deux Legendes: 2. Saint Francois de Paule marchant sur les flots
Annes de pelerinage - Premiere annee: Suisse: 7. Eglogue
Annes de pelerinage - Premiere annee: Suisse: 2. Au lac de Wallenstadt
Annes de pelerinage - Premiere annee: Suisse: 4. Au bord d'une source
Annes de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: 2. Il Penseroso
Annes de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: 3. Canzonetta del Salvator Rosa
Annes de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: Gondoliera (supplement, from 'Venezia e Napoli')
Annes de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: 4. Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Annes de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: 5. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Annes de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: 6. Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
Jesus bleibet meine Freude (From BWV 147)
Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (From BWV 140)

Customer Reviews:

Good songs, weird artist.......2006-10-16

I have heard of Whilhem Kempff's mastery because of my favorite artist Idil Biret. But definitely think the student surpasses the teacher. He has a rechid technique, and in the 1st legende by liszt, the trills are unevenly played (like you heard accentuation on one of the notes being trilled and not the others) The second legende, is intense. but VERY blurred. The pedal is held down incredibly, and so many things get blurred and it is hard to hear many MANY things.

i have really on listened to these two songs, but i imagine i will begin to like him more. He's a very lovely artist, and if he has taught my favorite artist of all time--idil biret--i know i will like him even more.

The best of the three GPC\Kempff.......2006-01-10

The second cd of this set is where the value is for Kempff fans. For the average listener, it is most likely the first.
I am a kempff fan, and have often heard about what a great liszt player he was in his younger lionine days. Music and Arts released a disc with some of this material on it, but the real butter is the Legends, the openers on disc 2. This disc, as a whole, is a reflection of the best attributes of this most important artist. From the liszt we go to the bach transcriptions, which are on a hard to find eloquence(australia) import disc(which also includes the greatest third english suite on record).
The amateur listener will most likely be more fullfilled with the first disc of beethoven sonata's and a mozart concerto, both of which are mainstream kempff.

Beethoven and beyond.......2001-01-17

While Beethoven is the composer whose interpretations Kempff is most noted for, this was certainly not his single specialty. After choosing Brahms and Schumann for the first issue of three in this series devoted to Kempff, Alfred Brendel this time presents interpretations of Beethoven and other Kempff trumps. I was fortunate enough to be present at one of the concerts that the 85-year-old pianist gave in his last tour, in which he played Beethoven's Opus 109-11. For those who never heard Kempff live, the included performance of Beethoven's Opus 90, should give some sense of the pianist's tone and cantabile playing. While his later issue of the complete sonatas of Schubert still remains my collection of choice, I prefer the version of D 845 that is included here. While it is beautifully played, and equally balanced, there is way more fire in this earlier performance. As such, I think it better fits the work of a, relatively, young man. I had heard later versions of Kempff's Liszt Ballades, but these again should be the first choice. What a pianism! If you don't do so already, this disc will certainly make you believe that men can walk on water. While there may be better performances of the Mozart concerto available (e.g. Pollini) this one is highly enjoyable, as are the Bach transcriptions.

Broud and Resounding Music-Making!! From another world........1999-06-02

Cortot and Kempff are the two piano-poets of the century, though their musical conceptions are very different. Kempff revolves around Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Bach and Schumann, whereas Cortot is associated primarily with Chopin and Schumann. Cortot's playing is soaring, free-spirited, energetic, and poetic, whereas Kempff plays more purely. His interpretations are almost ethereal- other-wordly. But speaking specifically of this disc, two gems I had not known before are now revealed. Strangely enough, the two Liszt Legends recorded in 1950- unusual repertoire for Kempff- are the only "miraculous" interpretaions I have ever heard. Nyireghyazi's is wonderful as well, but Kempff's ability to resonate sound and broaden the musical idea makes these two Legends truly legendary. In the St. Francis Walking on the Waters legend, his waves are never percussive- they are full, broad, and unmenacing. He succeeds in capturing the miracle, putting virtuosity in the background- concentrating on the spirituality of the music. He comes closer than anyone here in reproducing Liszt's conception of the "fullness of piano sound". Other pianists in this series whom I recommend are Alfred Cortot, Claudio Arrau, Maria Yudina, Paderewki, Friedman, Rosalyn Tureck, and of course Horowitz, the super-human bard who reduces all other musicians to cocroaches with his crashing sound.

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Piano/Dreams

Piano Dreams

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00007L4R7
Release Date: 2003-01-07

Tracks:

Erik Satie: Gymnopidie No.1 - Lent et douloureux
Franz Liszt: Rjve D'Amour No. 3 in A-flat major
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky: Octobre - Chant D'Automne
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in A minor, Ks. 310 - II. Andante catabile con espressione
Ludwig van Beethoven: : Sonata No.14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 Moonlight - I. Adagio sestenuto
Robert Schumann: : Fantaisie in C major, Op. 17 III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Sergei Rachmaninov: Eligie in E-flat minor, Op. 3 No.1
Paderewski: Nocturne in B flat, Op. 16 No. 4
Erik Satie: Gnossienne No.1
Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante difunte
George Gershwin: Prelude No. 2
George Gershwin: Love Walked In

Tracks:

Claude Debussy: Clair de lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
Edvard Grieg: Notturno in C major (Pihces lyriques, Op. 54 No. 4)
Alexander Scriabin: Prilude in F-sharp minor, Op. 11 No. 8
Frederic Chopin: Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No.1
Frederic Chopin: Nocturne in C-sharp minor
Franz Liszt: Au lac de Wallenstadt (Annis de phlerinage, I. La Suisse)
Claude Debussy: La soiree dans Grenade
Artur Rubinstein: Melody In F
Maurice Ravel: Ondine (from Gaspardde la nuit)
Francis Poulenc: Improvisations in C minor, FP 176 No.15- Hommage A Edith Piaf
Sergei Rachmaninov: Prelude in F- sharp minor, Op. 23
Gabrilovich: Melodie in F
Leos Janacek: On the Overgrown Path
Samuel Barber: Sonate Op. 26 - III. Adagio mesto
Roger Quilter: The Crimson Petal
Henri Dutilleux: D'ombre et de silence (from 3 Preludes)

Customer Reviews:

Piano/Dreams.......2003-02-24

I love this cd so much I been play in my store all time and so many customers come up to ask what's cd are we playing and where to get it, i give them all information I know. we love it.

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