Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1; Hungarian Rhapsodies; Schumann: Sonata No. 2 in G minor

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Now largely forgotten, the Ukrainian-born American pianist Mischa Levitzki won a considerable reputation for himself, at first in Europe, then in the United States. His death in 1941 at the age of 42 was overshadowed by world events, but he had by then secured a position for himself as one of the leading virtuosi of the day. Levitzki’s recordings demonstrate a formidable technique, always under control, as well as a lovely sound guided by an unerring ear for subtlety and nuance.

Album Description

Now largely forgotten, the Ukrainian-born American pianist Mischa Levitzki won a considerable reputation for himself, at first in Europe, then in the United States. His death in 1941 at the age of 42 was overshadowed by world events, but he had by then secured a position for himself as one of the leading virtuosi of the day. Levitzki's recordings demonstrate a formidable technique, always under control, as well as a lovely sound guided by an unerring ear for subtlety and nuance.

Customer Reviews:

Levitzki Revived. .......2004-10-26

Naxos has revived and put at the front of the market the collected recordings of Mischa Levitzki (1898-1941). Not even my wrinkled ears have heard the items on this second volume before now, apart from the two tiny encore pieces that conclude it. The performances that engaged me most were the Schumann Sonata, and the first take of "La Campanella". Levitzki's tender, lyrical playing of the sonata's second movement is in strong contrast to the bravura style exemplified in most of the other pieces here. There are some pearly runs and glossy scale passages in "La Campanella".

The Moszkowski piece is tossed off with appropriate ease. The pianist's own Waltz is something I used to play, not aware that most commentators now judge it to be camp and kitsch. To me it suggests Fritz Kreisler's miniatures or the pianist's own teacher, Ernst von Dohnanyi.

There is nearly 79 minutes' superb transfer value here.

The Levitzki Series Continues.......2003-11-29

Mischa Levitzki (1898-1941) was an American pianist trained mostly in Europe. He had, in fact, been born in Ukraine while his emigrant Russian-American parents were on a visit to the Old Country. He was extremely popular in the 1920s, but his vogue diminished in the 1930s and he died at only 42. He recorded little--only 53 78rpm sides--and Naxos is bringing them out in this series; this is Volume 2. The selections on this CD were recorded between 1927 and 1933. Collectors of historic piano recordings--as I am--will be wanting these issues because they are being issued in pristine sound by that master transfer engineer, Ward Marston.

On this disc is the seldom-heard Schumann Second Piano Sonata--you know, the one whose first movement has the marking 'So rasch wie möglich' ['As fast as possible'] followed later in the movement by 'Schneller' ['Faster']!)--which has always been one of my favorite pieces by Schumann. It is given an exciting reading here and the sound is simply amazing for 1933; listen to the richness of the bass notes, for instance.

Also included are the Liszt First Concerto (with Landon Ronald conducting the London Symphony), three Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies (No. 6, 12 & 13), as well as Liszt's 'Un sospiro' ['A Sigh'} and two performances of his 'La campanella' ['The Bell'], both a little slower than is usually heard but following the piece's tempo marking of Allegretto. They were recorded five years apart and there is little difference between them.

The CD concludes with Moszkowski's 'La Jongleuse' ('The Juggler Girl') and Levitzki's own Waltz in A Major, Op. 2, both bonbons he played frequently in his encore-studded recitals. The former is played with an endearing light touch, the latter with echt-Viennese charm.

Levitzki may not have been one of the giants, but he certainly was a talented player with impeccable technique, including an unfailingly beautiful tone, and a slightly cool style. Interestingly, Horowitz, whose style was somewhat similar, didn't like his playing.

TT=78:33