John Ogdon playes A Liszt Recital

On this CD:

1. Aprés une lecture du Dante II, fantasia quasi sonata, for piano (Années II/7) S. 161/7 (LW 159/7)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

2. Liebestraum (3), notturnos for piano (after songs LW N18), S. 541, LW A103 No.1 in A flat
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

3. Réminiscences de Boccanegra, transcription for piano (after Verdi), S. 438 (LW A314)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

4. Konzertetüden (2), for piano, S. 145 (LW A218)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

5. Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52) No.2 in E flat
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

6. Études d'exécution transcendante d'après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52) No. 03 in G sharp minor
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

7. Funérailles, for piano (Harmonies poétiques No. 7), S.173/7 (LW A158/7) No.7: Funerailles
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

8. Mephisto Waltz (I & II), for piano No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke), S. 514 (LW A189)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by John Ogdon

Tracks:

Annees De Pelerinage, Deuxieme Annee, Italie, S.161: No.7 Apres Une Lecture De Dante, Fant Quasi...
Liebestraume, S541: No.1 in A flat, Hohe Liebe
Trauer-Vorspiel, S.206 No.1
Trauer-Marsch, S.206 No.2
Reminiscences De Simon Boccanegra, S.438
Two Concert Studies, S.145: No.1 Waldesrauschen
Two Concert Studies, S.145: No.2 Gnomenreigen
Etudes D'Execution Transcendante D Apres Paganini, S.140: No.2 in E flat
Etudes D'Execution Transcendante D Apres Paganini, S.140: No.3 in g# La Campanella
Harmonies Poetiques Et Religieuses, S.173: No.7 Funerailles
Mephisto Waltz No.1, S.514, Der Tanz In Der Dorfschenke

Customer Reviews:

The ideal Ogdon souvenir.......2000-10-16

John Ogdon is one of music's tragic figures, another of the many talented pianists whose nervous and mental illnesses deprived us of a great talent. This disk is recorded prior to Ogdon's unhappy decline, back in the days when he was tearing through the repetoire with massive enthusiasm. It is an excellent survey of his Liszt. Although it is duplicated partially in his second GPE volume on Philips, this is the better disk to buy, although of course it is more expensive.

The best thing about the program is its ideal combination of Liszt's virtuoso music with the dark works of his old age. The opening Dante Sonata is an expansive, detailed vision, far superior in execution to the live performance on the GPE disk. The Liebstraume is warm and affectionate, without being too soppy. Trauer, infrequently recorded, burns with scalding intensity. It is followed by the Simon Boccanegra paraphrase. Very different to the paraphrases of his youth, the work has a dark-hued, private aura. Ogdon's performance is a benchmark in late Liszt interpretation. The following studies glitter and shine exactly as they should, leaving the close to a solemn but never lachrymose Funérailles, and a dancing Mephisto Waltz.

The sound is good for its period.

Music Track: