Wilhelm Kempff: Rare Recordings (1936 - 1945)

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ("Elvira Madigan") K. 467
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff
Conducted by Hans Weisbach

2. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ("Emperor"), Op. 73
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with Wilhelm Kempff
Conducted by Peter Raabe

3. Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue for keyboard in D minor, BWV 903
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

4. Transcription for piano of Bach's "Jesu bleibet meine Freude from cantata BWV. 147"
Composed by Wilhelm Kempff
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

5. Berceuse for piano in D flat major, Op. 57, CT 7
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

6. Mazurka for piano in F minor, Op. 7/3, CT 58
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

7. Mazurka for piano in G major, KK II/2, CT 100
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

8. Fantasy-Impromptu for piano in C sharp minor, Op. 66, CT 46
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

9. Années de pèlerinage, 1st Year ("Suisse"), suite for piano, S. 160 (LW A159) Au lac de Wallenstadt
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

10. Années de pèlerinage, 1st Year ("Suisse"), suite for piano, S. 160 (LW A159) Eglogue
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

11. Années de pèlerinage, 1st Year ("Suisse"), suite for piano, S. 160 (LW A159) Au bord d'une source
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

12. Il penseroso II, for piano (Années II/2), S. 161/2 (LW A55/2) Il Penseroso
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

13. Sonetto del Petrarca No. 123 (I'vidi in terra angelica costumi), for piano (Années II/6), S. 158/6 (LW A55/6) Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

14. Gondoliera, for piano (Années, suppl. to II/1), for piano, S. 162/1 (LW A197/1) Gondoliera
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

15. Nocturne for piano No. 6 in D flat Major, Op. 63
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by Wilhelm Kempff

Tracks:

Pno Con No.21 in C, K.467: Announcer - Rare Recordings (1936-1945)
Pno Con No.21 in C, K.467: Movt 1: Allegro Maestoso
Pno Con No.21 in C, K.467: Movt 2: Andante
Pno Con No.21 in C, K.467: Movt 3: Allegro Vivace Assai
Pno Con No.5 in E flat, Op.73: Movt 1: Allegro
Pno Con No.5 in E flat, Op.73: Movt 2: Adagio Un Poco Mosso
Pno Con No.5 in E flat, Op.73: Movt 3. Rondo. Allegro

Tracks:

Chromatic Fant And Fugue in d
Cant No.147 'Wohl Mir Dass Ich Jesum Habe'
Berceuse, Op.57
Mazurka in f, Op.7 No.3
Mazurka in C, Op.57 No.2
Fant Impromptu in c#, Op.66
Premiere Annees of Annees De Pelerinage: Au Lac De Wallenstadt
Premiere Annees of Annees De Pelerinage: Eglogue
Premiere Annees of Annees De Pelerinage: Au Bord D'une Source
Seconde Annee Of Annees De Pelerinage: Il Penseroso
Seconde Annee Of Annees De Pelerinage: Sonetto 123 Del Petrarca
Venezia E Napoli Of Annees De Pelerinage: Gondoliera
Nocturne No.6, Op.63

Customer Reviews:

Liszt for the ages.......2006-01-12

While Wilhelm Kempff is best remembered for his recordings of Beethoven and Schubert, no lesser authority than Alfred Brendel considered Kempff's recording of the Liszt piano concertos as the best recording ever made. We had the old lp at home, but I only listened to this disc in the pre-Liszt-appreciation years and can not comment on Brendel's assessment.

Brendel himself exposed pianophiles to Kempff's outstanding recordings of Brahms and Liszt works that he included in the discs devoted to Kempff in the great pianists of the 20th century series. Indeed, the recording of the two Liszt legends, in despite of the outdated recording, still remains my favorite of these great works.

Doing some internet surfing in an attempt to wash away the sour taste of Hough's disappointing recent recording of Liszt's Suisse I came across the historic album. While this two disc sets also contains works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Faure, I will focus here on the Liszt, which is truly impressive.

Recorded in August 1945 just months after the conclusion of WWII and the destruction of Germany and its political structure that Kempff himself in no way opposed, the serenity that characterizes his performance of the Liszt works is strangely at odds with the situation "at home".

Despite the obvious shortcomings in the mono recording technique this set is still an easy first choice for Liszt's au Lac Wallenstadt, Eglogue, Au Bord d'une Source and Gondoliera. While Kempff was a pianist whose top speed was only half of that of his contemporary Horowitz, these performances all exude mastery at the highest level. Especially Au Bord d'une Source gets a performance that leaves most competition far behind. Liszt and refinement are not words that appear in the same sentence with too high a frequency, yet here Kempff proves the opposite to be true. Clearly better than the version that was included in the aforementioned compilation there is a sense rest and delicacy that has not been repeated since. Kempff makes it sound childishly simple completely masking the highly tricky nature of this challenging piece. It is interpreting to compare this interpretation to the one that Horowitz made in 1947. There is little doubt about the latter's "raw pianistic horsepower" which results in the most shiny set of waves on record, yet this performance gets bettered by Kempff's almost Mozartian performance. The very same is true for the other Liszt pieces both on water (Wallenstadt, Gondoliera) and earth (Eglogue).

Highly recommended for the collector!

Music Track:

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