Liszt: Les Années de pèlerinage

On this CD:

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

2. Années de pèlerinage, 2nd Year ("Italie"), suite for piano, S. 161 (LW A55)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Aldo Ciccolini

3. Venezia e Napoli II (3), for piano (Années, supplement to II), S. 162 (LW A197)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Aldo Ciccolini

4. Années de pèlerinage, 3rd Year, suite for piano, S. 163 (LW A283)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Aldo Ciccolini

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.

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....!

Average customer rating:

A great pianist
FULL OF MUSICAL RICHES
The greatest pianist I've ever heard
Longing for Schumann
Alexis Weissenberg , Piano : Logic, Passions and Poesy

Les Introuvables de Alexis Weissenberg

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli plays Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, etc. (Box) [Germany]
Chopin: Nocturnes; Mazurkas; Waltzes

ASIN: B00014EJ66
Release Date: 2004-05-05

Tracks:

Sonetto 123 Del Petrarca
Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca
Sonate In B Minor
I Grave - Doppio Movimento
II Scherzo
Marche Funebre: Lento
IV Finale: Presto

Tracks:

I Maestoso
II Adagio
III Rondo (Allegro Non Troppo)
Intermezzo In A Major, Op.118 No.2
Prelude
Fugue
Variation
Choral Nun Komm' Der Heiden Heiland (Viens, Sauveur Des Paiens), BWV 659
Variations La Ricordanza, Sur Un Theme De Pierre Rode

Tracks:

I Allegramente
II Andante
III Prestissimo
Prelude
Fugue
Forlane
Rigaudon
Menuet
Toccata
Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales
Danse Russe
Chez Petrouchka
La Semaine Grasse

Tracks:

I Allegro Ma Non Tanto
II Intermezzo (Adagio)
III Finale (Alla Breve)
I Andante - Allegro - Andante
II Tema Con Variazioni
III Allegro, Ma Non Troppo

Customer Reviews:

A great pianist.......2007-03-10

The Rachmaninoff and the Prokofiev Piano Concertos have no equal. It's a great collection.

FULL OF MUSICAL RICHES.......2007-02-26

This compilation of recordings by Alexis Weissenberg consists of some of his recordings dating from 1950 through 2004 which, I don't believe, were ever issued in the USA. (At least, I've never heard them!) What musical riches are contained in this 4 disc set which consists of some of the greatest works composed for the piano by great composers such as Liszt, Chopin, Brahms, Czerny, Ravel, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev (plus others) played by (in my opinion) one of the greatest pianist ever. I loved this compilation. Of course, I had favorites on the discs; I will now list some of highlights for me from this compilation.

The two "Sonettos" by Franz Liszt are gorgeous! Alexis plays them beautifully with much feeling. Surprising for me, (I usually don't) I even enjoyed the BIG "Mephistophelian" Liszt sonata in B minor--my god, Weissenberg plays the hell out of that work (no pun intended). One of my favorites, the Chopin Sonata #2 is given a splendid reading--the first two movements are played at a ferociously fast tempo; however, the "Marche funebre" is the most moving account of that movement that I've ever heard! Weissenberg's account of the last movement is most impressive--he never allows the tone to get any louder until the very last profound chord--wow! The Rachmaninov concerto #3 with Georges Pretre and the Chicago Symphony is wonderfully mysterious and very melodic. I also loved his recordings of the Ravel Concerto in G major plus Ravel's "Le tombeau de Couperin suite" and "Valses nobles" hearing Weissenberg play Ravel reminded me of a good glass of Champagne filled with many bubbles and with a great bouquet. The Prokofiev concerto recorded with the Orchestra of Paris and Ozawa is thrilling with its intensity--what virtuosity Alexis Weissenberg has! Weissenberg along with Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra give a wonderfully "full bodied" reading of Brahms 1st Piano Concerto--I've never heard the Philadelphia sounding any better--it is a great recording of a work that I adore!

I truly loved this 4 disc set (each running over 70 minutes) of some very GREAT piano playing. NO, I did not listen with score(s) in hand nor did I seek out other recordings of these works from my collection to compare Alexis' interpretations with. Instead, I allowed myself the luxury of sitting back in my favorite "arm chair" and simply enjoying these great works for the piano that are played by a Master of the piano! What really impresses me is that Weissenberg plays with very beautiful tone no matter how demanding the work may be--that is certainly the main reason I, for once, enjoyed the Liszt B minor sonata!

By the way, EMI has done a superlative job--the sound of ALL the works is great. Not once, was I aware that I was listening to an older recording. The sound is great!!

The greatest pianist I've ever heard.......2006-12-21

Personally, I regard Alexis Weissenberg as the greatest pianist I've ever heard. Although superb technically, Weisenberg is most outstanding for his incredible artistry. This set of recordings contains some of his greatest recordings -- indeed some of the greatest performances ever recorded by anyone. Very highly recommended.

Longing for Schumann.......2005-12-16

I saw Maestro Weissenberg in concert several times throughout the 70s in New York. Once he played the Rachmanninoff preludes. Another time an all-Schumann program. I once went to hear him with friends at Alice Tully Hall, a small room in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. After the concert we went backstage. He approached me, took my hand and said 'so nice of you to come.' It remains one of my favorite moments in my life. Having moved around a great deal in the last 30 years, I lost track of my recording of Carnaval and Sonata in B Minor. Sometimes if I lay quite still I can hear the pieces playing in my head. Won't EMI take pity on us mere mortals and release the recording soon? I think of it almost daily.

Alexis Weissenberg , Piano : Logic, Passions and Poesy.......2004-12-17

By: Frank Georg B e c h y n a,M.D.--General Practitioner--
D - 40235 Düsseldorf ( Germany / Allemagne )
Decembre 17 , 2004 -- FB/3

Who could listen to Maestro Weissenberg's many recitals during his career and has his recordings knows, that he belongs for all time to the Greatest Pianists . This compiliation was selectet by Mr. Weissenberg himself. CD 1 continues two of the most important piano sonatas . Liszt's b minor sonata 8 the second recording by Weissenberg ) ist tremendous. I have never heard the work from the lento - beginning , the phaenomenal played Grandioso to the Lento end. It is only comparable by the interpretation by Argerich, Barere and the young Horowitz. The 2nd sonata by Chopin is the Olymp of all of the 100 different intertretaions! The concertos of Rachmaninov ( d-minor ), Ravel and Prokoviec find a similar great interpretation in all cases also by the faboulos Martha Argerich . Pretere and Ozawa are on their highest levels . Also the superb Orchestras, especially the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Weissenberg's J S Bach "Nun komm der Heiden Heiland" is a gem !Never before - including Katchen and Arrau - i have heard the Intermezzo 0ßus 118 No 2 by Brahms in this analysis of what Brahms meant in his late piano works- a summary of his life .The 1st concerto of Brahms is a summary of the history of this singular work. The interpretation by Alexis Weissenberg is like a psychoanlysis of the soul in this monument ! When he plays Maurice Ravel I can compare these recordings only with the young Vlado Perlemuter, who had studied the works with the composer . And to all who say Mr Weissenberg's play is too intellectual, too
perfect in every technical detail should listen to the wonderful tone in Carl Czerny's "La Ricordanza" .when this record was made Alexis Weissenberg was just a liitle more than 20 years old. Who could play all these works today ???
Personally , I miss Robert Schumann's master works for piano solo, like the C majoe Fanatsy, opus 17, the"Humoreske" , the incomparable interpretation of his "Carnaval"-an interpretation Glenn Gould had admired so much -,the "Scenes of Childhood" . But : As far I have heard next year will follow the Schumann recordings reissued by EMI . Arur Rubinstein , Artur Schnabel, Mr. Horowitz , Gould, Madame Argerich admired Maestro Weissenberg's Art and personality as well as Harold C Schonberg, Norman Lebrecht or Bryce Morrison .
These 4 CDs are on a high technical level and - I must repeat it - all interpretations are outstanding . With a playing like this , full of passion , logic , poesy and tecnical perfectness Mr. Weissenberg will stay forever under the most impertant Artist and Pianists of all time . And he is a great personality ! Sometimes equally important !
Frank G. B e c h y n a

Tracks:

Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Tarantella
Rhapsodie espagnole
Pensee des morts
Saint Francois d'Assise prechant aux oiseaux
Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Annees de pelerinage, 3eme annee, No. 2: Aux cyprde la Villa d'Este
Annees de pelerinage, 3eme annee, No. 3: Aux cyprde la Villa d'Este
Annees de pelerinage, 3eme annee, No. 4: Les jeux d'eau a Villa d'Este
Recueillement
La lugubre gondole
La lugubre gondole
Annees de pelerinage, 2e annee, No. 7: Apres une lecture de Dante, fantasia quasi sonata
Die Glocken von Rom: Ave Maria

Customer Reviews:

Magical.......2001-11-23

I'm not sure I can add much to what others have written. I particularly recommend the Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude. Wonderfully poignant. I bought the first disc soon after it was first released, on its own, in the late 1980s. Some years later someone told me, when I asked why I hadn't seen Stephen Hough around for a while, that he had become a monk! I don't know if that's remotely true. But God would like this rendition too, I think.

Rhapsodie espagñole.......2001-11-14

(Review of the 1988 disc that makes up half this collection)

This is a stunner - some of the best Liszt playing I have heard. The rollicking aragonesca of the "Rhapsodie" inspires Hough to alpine feats of prestidigitation. I laughed with astonishment when I heard it. But for all of his super-pianism, his hallmark is control and refinement of tone. He's very much in the Earl Wild mold. Like Wild, his playing can verge at times on the precious as he strives for too delicate an effect. We never forget, however, that a unique intellect is at work. Our few misgivings pale beside music-making of this stature.

Are five stars enough?.......2000-04-09

Most Liszt recordings seem to feature his glittering and somewhat empty virtuosity. This set, to SH's credit, concentrates more on Liszt's profound musical subjects as well as his pianistic splendor. I listened in awe to the Benediction. In the same way, I was impressed with the St.Fransis and the Pensees. I think Liszt would have been proud to hear his work so well selected and played. The musical world should be happy that SH is a young man still able to record everything with DDD technology. It's a pity this is not the case with V. Horowitz

A rest to my hands, a bless to my ears........1999-09-19

Once I've studied classic piano, then I gave up. Listening now to Hough, I realise how I could never be satisfied with my playing, cause if there's someone like him to play, I'm glad to be just a listener. I have other versions of these songs, but Hough's always seems to me like the original ones. "Aprés Une Lecture de Dante" is my definition of perfection and the rest of the album comes along.

Superb.......1999-05-17

The album contains reissues of two different Liszt recordings, one from 1988 and one from 1992. The later disc is devoted to pieces from Liszt's final years; it is gratifying to finally hear this aphoristic, visionary music performed by a major artist. The 1988 disc contains "mainstream" Liszt, including a reading of the Spanish Rhapsody that is as incendiary as any on record. (In a conversation, Stephen Hough didn't exactly disown this performance, but he attributed some of its exuberance to an "overly enthusiastic" producer.) Hough has become one of the most fascinating pianists on the planet, and the album would be irresistible even without its bargain price.

Average customer rating:

Liszt: Les Années de pèlerinage

Manufacturer: EMI Classics Imports
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008PW61
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

La Chapelle De Guillaume Tell
Au Lac De Wallenstadt
Pastorale
Au Bord D'Une Source
Orage Vallee D'Obermann
Eglogue
Le Mal Du Pays
Le Mal Du Pays
Les Cloches De Geneve, Nocturne
Spozalizio
Il Penseroso
Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa
Sonetto 47 Del Petrarca
Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca
Sonetto 123 Del Petrarca

Tracks:

Apres Une Lecture De Dante (Fantasia Quasi Sonata)
Gondoliera
Canzone
Tarentella
Angelus! (Priere Aux Anges Gardiens)
Aux Cypres De La Villa D'Este I
Aux Cypres De La Villa D'Este II
Les Jeux D'Eau A La Villa D'Este
Sunt Lacrymae Rerum
Marche Funebre
Sursum Corda

Average customer rating:

A true bargain for piano lovers

Young Brendel: The Vox Years

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Beethoven: Variations & Vignettes

ASIN: B000059RXI
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

Pno Con in D, Hob.XVIII No.11: Allegro
Pno Con in D, Hob.XVIII No.11: Un Poco Adagio
Pno Con in D, Hob.XVIII No.11: Rondo All'Ungarese: Allegro Assai
Rondo in D, K.382: Allegretto Grazioso
Rondo in D, K.382: Adagio
Rondo in D, K.382: Allegro
Pno Con No.27 in B flat, K.595: Allegro
Pno Con No.27 in B flat, K.595: Andante
Pno Con No.27 in B flat, K.595: Allegretto

Tracks:

Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Les Adieux: Adagio-Allegro
Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': L'Absence: Andante Espressivo
Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Le Retour: Vivacissamamente
Son No.17 in D, Op.31 No.2 'Tempest': Largo-Allegro-Adagio
Son No.17 in D, Op.31 No.2 'Tempest': Adagio
Son No.17 in D, Op.31 No.2 'Tempest': Allegretto
Son No.30 in E, Op.109: Vivace Ma Non Troppo; Adagio Espressivo
Son No.30 in E, Op.109: Prestissimo
Son No.30 in E, Op.109: Tema Con Vars
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Allegretto in g
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Andante Con Moto in C
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Al'Allemande in D
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Andante Cantabile in A
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Risoluto in c
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Andante-Allegretto in G
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Allegro Ma Non Troppo in C
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Moderato Cantabile in C
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Vivace Moderato in a
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Allegramente in a
Eleven Bagatelles, Op.119: Andante Ma Non Troppo in B flat
Vars 'Kind Willst Du Ruhigschlafen', WoO75

Tracks:

Fant in g, Op.77
15 Vars With Fugue On A Theme From Prometheus, Op.35 'Eroica'
Rondo in G, Op.51 No.2
Qnt in E flat, Op.16: Grave - Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
Qnt in E flat, Op.16: Andante Cantabile
Qnt in E flat, Op.16: Rondo - Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Rondo in B flat, G.151

Tracks:

Fant in C, Op.15 (D.760) 'Wanderer'
Three Pieces, Op. Posth. (D.946): No.1 in e flat
Three Pieces, Op. Posth. (D.946): No.2 in E flat
Three Pieces, Op. Posth. (D.946): No.3 in C
Slavonic Dances, Op.46: No.1 in C: Furiant - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.46: No.2 in e: Dumka - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.46: No.6 in A flat: Polka - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.46: No.8 in g: Furiant - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.72: No.1 in B: Odzemek - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.72: No.2 in e: Dumka - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.72: No.4 in D flat: Dumka - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.72: No.6 in B flat: Polonaise - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien
Slavonic Dances, Op.72: No.7 in C: Srbske Kolo - Alfred Brendel/Walter Klien

Tracks:

Oberon
Il Trovatore
Tristan Und Isolde
Cantique D'Amour
Benediction De Dieu Dans La Solitude
Funerailles
Annes De Pelerinage Book II (Italie): Sonetto Del Petrarca 47
Annes De Pelerinage Book II (Italie): Sonetto Del Patrarca 104
Paganini Etude No.2
Paganini Etude No.3

Tracks:

Pno Con, Op.42
Pno Con in G, Op.55: Allegro Con Brio
Pno Con in G, Op.55: Moderato Ben Accentuato
Pno Con in G, Op.55: Toccata: Allegro Con Fuoco
Pno Con in G, Op.55: Larghetto
Pno Con in G, Op.55: Vivo
Petrouchka Ste: Russian Dance
Petrouchka Ste: In Petrouchka's Room
Petrouchka Ste: The Shrovetide Fair
Hungarian Rhap No.11
Mephisto Waltz No.1

Album Description

VOX is proud to present an irresistible 6 CD set taken from Alfred Brendel's remarkable 36 album discography with the company. Made during the early years of his unique career, these recordings rightly established him as one of the foremost pianists of the century. The repertoire covered the complete works of Beethoven, most of Schubert's solo pieces, several Mozart concerti, some of the cornerstones of Franz Liszt's output and many other works. This set is fascinating because his early interpretations are different from his current ones and they show a towering artistic maturity shining through a young man's buoyant fiery energy.

Customer Reviews:

A true bargain for piano lovers.......2001-06-22

Today Alfred Brendel is widely recognised as one of the greatest pianists of our day, but back in the 1950s and 1960s he was a secret known only to a select group of piano afficionados. In those days he made a series of recordings for the Vox label, which has kept them in print in various combinations ever since. This box set collects six hours' worth of the best. While he has a wider repertoire than most people acknowledge (from Bach to Schoenberg), Brendel's probably best-known for his recordings of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, and they form the heart of this collection. Brendel has also been one of the few pianists (along with Andras Schiff) to actively champion Haydn's piano music, and the recordings included here should go a long way to convincing any listener just how good they are. In the last three decades Brendel has pretty much re-recorded all of the works here (some more than once), in better sound and with even finer playing; but if you're a music lover on a budget, or just want to hear some remarkable performances, this box is well worth picking up at a bargain price.

Average customer rating:

From William Tell's heroic survival to Obermann's valley of death.
STEPHEN DOES IT AGAIN
Stephen Hough at His Best

Liszt: Années de pèlerinage - Suisse

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Hummel: Piano Sonatas
Stephen Hough Piano Collection
Liszt: Sonata, Ballades and Polonaises
Brahms: Piano Sonata, Op. 5 / Four Ballades, Op. 10
York Bowen: Piano Music

ASIN: B000A0HFXU
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Chapelle De Guillaume Tell
Au Lac De Wallenstadt
Pastorale
Au Bord D'une Source
Orage
Vallee D'obermann
Eglogue
Le Mal Du Pays
Les Cloches De Geneve - Nocturne
Les Adieux - Reverie Sur Un Motif De Romeo Et Juliette
Valse De L'opera Faust
Les Sabeennes - Berceuse D L'opera La Reine De Saba

Amazon.com

Stephen Hough has the ample virtuoso credentials to excel in these demanding exemplars of Romantic piano music. Only rarely do we miss the rhetorical flourishes or the big, burnished tone and philosophical depth of an Arrau, but this is a first-rate reading of wonderful piano music. Hough's performance of "Vallé d'Obermann," the longest by far of the Swiss book of the Années, is played like the large-scale tone poem it is, and he fully conveys the work's meditation on nature's mysteries. His tempo freedoms in "Au bord d'une source" help make this astounding "water music" a miracle of color and mood. Throughout, Hough's fleet fingers dazzle in the difficult passages and his tonal subtleties reflect the poetry in these nine pieces. The operatic paraphrases may be less ambitious music, but it's hard to resist the toe-tapping bounce he gives the waltz from Gounod's Faust or the gentle beauties of the Roméo et Juliette Réverie and the Berceuse from the now all-but-forgotten La Reine de Saba. In all, a well-recorded, well-filled disc of superb pianism. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

From William Tell's heroic survival to Obermann's valley of death........2005-12-29

To follow Glenn Gould's maxim "the only reason to make a new recording is to do it differently", this review will not follow its two predecessors expurgation of a dislike of the composer or a rehash of this albums liner notes.

Let's face the facts: Hough is a very good pianist. He has a wide repertoire, an excellent technique and is a truly nice guy as I found out during the intermission of a Hamelin concert that we both attended. My admiration for the pianist has been mixed. I greatly liked his courageous Hummel and Mompou, but was less impressed by his popular piano album and his Schubert.

Although more than familiar with Liszt Suisse through many concert performances and the recordings by Lazar Berman and Jorge Bolet, I was curious what Hough would do with one of the best works in the romantic piano catalog. Let's be honest, everyone -and this includes most of the tunnel-visioned British press- who goes gaga over this recording requires either an urgent doctor's visit or a reacquaintance with the existing catalog.

The recording starts out strong: the "other William Tell overture" is set up in epic proportions. While the chord work misses the grandeur of the aforementioned giants and is a little mechanic, Hough's work in the bass sections invokes an aura of mysticism and epic. While I prefer an approach with faster arpeggiation of the broken chords, this is just a minor detail. The performance of Lac de Wallenstadt a seemingly simple, but really difficult "water piece", is also excellent. While Bolet's sense of color is absent, there is a great sense of rhythmic security and resulting serenity. This is rather ironic since the lake currently known as the Wallensee is notorious for its many traffic jams.

Unfortunately, from here it was down hill from me. The pastoral, loosely based on the theme of the last moment of Beethoven's opus 28 sonata, starts out nice but gets a sudden and mistaken tarantella twist. Rhythmically strong, but entirely out of the pastoral context. Au Bord d'une Source gets a decent performance that in no way is a stand out in an overly full catalog. The only (non-existent) extra recording that we need would be the concert version of the fifteen year old Glenn Gould.

After some colorless but steely muscle pianism in the thunderstorm we arrive at the cycle's central piece Vallee D'obermann. What a disappointment!
Both in length and in the embodiment of Suisse's central theme of man rediscovering himself in an encounter with (Mother) nature the valley is the cycle's raison d'etre. Especially in the light of all the great performances Bolet, Berman, Horowitz, Ax etc. Hough's performance is an aimless musical black hole. While things get better in the final three pieces of the cycle, they don't wash away the taste of this valley of death.

Next come three Gounod transcriptions. Strong piano playing, but ihmo an utter lack of charm and poetry. The Faust waltz, a perennial favorite among the virtuoso piano encores, gets a humorless performance devoid of any sense of grace.

In all: strong technical piano playing, Hough deserves a 8.5 on the Hamelin scale of piano dexterity, but an at times painful lack of charm and poetry. The recording is excellent.

Final advice: get Bolet or Berman, or Lortie for better recording quality.

STEPHEN DOES IT AGAIN.......2005-10-12

I'm going to admit something here that probably will make me in some circles (especially in piano circles) a complete "philistine" musically-I don't particularly like Franz Liszt's music; at best, I'm kind of non-committal towards his music! (Now that I've said it, I DO feel better!) This new recording by Stephen Hough certainly goes a long way to improve my feeling towards the music of Liszt. Mr. Hough's playing is very beautiful and very sensitive conveying deep emotions. "Annees de pelerinage - Suisse" is truly a lovely work (at least in Stephen's hands). The paraphrases are most interesting as played by Mr. Hough. He truly is a stupendous pianist making these works on this album very appealing even to me.
Diffidently buy this album especially if you are a fan of Liszt. If you are like me, kind of "wishy-washy" in your admiration, buy it anyway because you will hear a master (Stephen Hough) of the piano at the top of his form.

Stephen Hough at His Best.......2005-09-16

The Annees de pelerginage Primiere Annee - Suisse is a reworking (except for one piece) of an earlier work called Album d'un voyageur which recounts the liaison between Liszt and Marie d'Agoult when they decided in 1835 to elope to Switzerland. They remained there for 16 months and these pieces for piano recall places that the couple visited and the country itself. This was no small decision for Marie who left behind a daughter and life in a palatial house.

The first piece Chapelle de Guillaume Tell is a homage to the famous hero that starts quietly but builds to heroic dimensions before returning to the solemn beginning. Au lac de Wallenstadt recalls the lake the Liszt and Marie visited soon after they arrived in Switzerland, a piece written to bring out the peace and serenity that the waters of the lake conveyed to the pair. Pastorale is a portrait of the scenery of Switzerland and acts as a buffer between the two pieces concerned with water - the former piece and Au bord d'une source. The latter work is interesting in that it was heavily revised from the original which was played without a break from Au lac de Wallenstadt. The new version is more shimmering, intricately depicting the movement of water.

Orage was newly composed for this suite in Weimar and magnificently depicts a n Alpine storm. Orage contains the emotional music that we usually associate with Liszt's style. The longest piece is Vallee d'Obermann, inspired from a novel that is set in Switzerland. The music depicts the sense of awe Obermann has for nature and Liszt included a quite from the book with the music "What do I want? What am I? What do I ask of nature?" This is a somber and contemplative piece that has a stormy central section that gradually becomes more impassioned. Eglogue is a return to pastoral themes and the music has a playful tone, especially compare to the brooding quality of the piece that preceded it. Le mal du pays (Homesickness) is melancholy, as the title suggests but is more poignant than depressing or sad, rather like recalling a happy time that has vanished forever. The final work is Les cloches de Geneve which is subtitled Nocturne. It is a delicate piece that every so quietly suggests the tolling id distant bells and slowly builds to an emotional climax and gradually returning to the tone of the bells and slowly fading away.

This CD also includes Liszt's opera paraphrases after Charles Gounod. These are from Liszt's mature years and with the exception of the Faust waltz are not heard very often. The first selection is the lover's parting scene from Romeo and Juliet, which conveys a delicate feeling of parting and regret. The waltz from Faust follows. This was a very popular tune is Liszt's day and he has added garish harmonic twists that very effectively make Liszt's transcription a poke at Gounod while being a brilliant work for piano. The final selection is a berceuse from The Queen of Sheba, now an obscure opera. It is a charming lullaby written with a marvelous lightness that deserves to be better known.

I had the great privilege to heard Stephen Hough play some of the Annees de pelerinage - Suisse and commend his playing then and the CD recording as among the best of Liszt interpreters. He has the greatest sensitivity for the music and conveys the emotion of the music with great shading and coloring. It is a treat to be able to have a recording of this music from him.

Early Recordings, Vol. 3: Années de Pélerinage, Suisse

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Early Recordings, Vol. 3: Années de Pélerinage, Suisse

Manufacturer: APR
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004YU9S
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: I. Chapelle De Guillaume Tell (Lento - Allegro...
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: II. Au Lac De Wallenstadt (Andante Placido)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: III. Pastorale (Vivace)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: IV. Au Bord D'une Source (Allegretto Grazioso)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: V. Orage (Allegro Molto)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: VI. Vallee D'Obermann (Lento Assai)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: VII. Eglogue (Allegretto Con Moto)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: VIII. Le Mal Du Pays (Lento)
Annees De Pelerinage: Premiere Annee - Suisse: IX. Les Cloches De Geneve (Nocturne: Quasi...
Annees De Pelerinage: Seconde Annee Supplement - Venezia E Napoli: I. Gondoliera (Quasi Allegretto)
Annees De Pelerinage: Seconde Annee Supplement - Venezia E Napoli: II. Canzone (Lento Doloroso)
Annees De Pelerinage: Seconde Annee Supplement - Venezia E Napoli: III. Tarantella (Presto)

Average customer rating:

A great compilation
Liszt
Incomparable Brendel
Beutiful

The Art Of Alfred Brendel

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ecossaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000041E6
Release Date: 1996-03-12

Tracks:

Andante con variazioni In F Minor, Hob. XVII:6
Sonata In E Flat, Hob. XVI:49: 1. Allegro
Sonata In E Flat, Hob. XVI:49: 2. Adagio e cantabile
Sonata In E Flat, Hob. XVI:49: 3. Finale. Tempo di minuetto
Sonata In C, Hob. XVI:50: 1. Allegro
Sonata In C, Hob. XVI:50: 2. Adagio
Sonata In C, Hob. XVI:50: 3. Allegro molto
Sonata In E Flat, Hob. XVI:52: 1. Allegro
Sonata In E Flat, Hob. XVI:52: 2. Adagio
Sonata In E Flat, Hob. XVI:52: 3. Finale. Presto

Tracks:

Sonata In A Minor, KV 310: 1. Allegro maestoso
Sonata In A Minor, KV 310: 2. Andante cantabile con espressione
Sonata In A Minor, KV 310: 3. Presto
Fantasia In C Minor, KV 475: Adagio - Allegro - Andantino - Piu allegro - Tempo I
Sonata In C Minor, KV 457: 1. Molto allegro
Sonata In C Minor, KV 457: 2. Adagio
Sonata In C Minor, KV 457: 3. Allegro assai
Sonata In B Flat, KV 333: 1. Allegro
Sonata In B Flat, KV 333: 2. Andante cantabile
Sonata In B Flat, KV 333: 3. Allegretto grazioso

Tracks:

Sonata In A, KV 331: 1. Tema con variazioni
Sonata In A, KV 331: 2. Menuetto
Sonata In A, KV 331: 3. Alla turca. Allegretto
Rondo In A Minor, KV 511: Andante
Piano Concerto In E Flat, KV 449: 1. Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto In E Flat, KV 449: 2. Andantino
Piano Concerto In E Flat, KV 449: 3. Allegro ma non troppo
Piano Concerto In C, KV 467: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto In C, KV 467: 2. Andante
Piano Concerto In C, KV 467: 3. Allegro vivace assai

Tracks:

Concerto In E Flat, KV 365 For Two Pianos And Orchestra: 1. Allegro
Concerto In E Flat, KV 365 For Two Pianos And Orchestra: 2. Andante
Concerto In E Flat, KV 365 For Two Pianos And Orchestra: 3. Rondeaux. Allegro
Piano Concerto In B Flat, KV 450: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto In B Flat, KV 450: 2. (Andante)
Piano Concerto In B Flat, KV 450: 3. Allegro
Piano Concerto In F, KV 459: 1. Allegro vivace
Piano Concerto In F, KV 459: 2. Allegretto
Piano Concerto In F, KV 459: 3. Allegro assai

Tracks:

Piano Concerto In D, KV 537 - Coronation: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto In D, KV 537 - Coronation: 2. Larghetto
Piano Concerto In D, KV 537 - Coronation: 3. Allegretto
Adagio In B Minor, KV 540
Piano Concerto In B Flat, KV 595: 1. Allegro
Piano Concerto In B Flat, KV 595: 2. Larghetto
Piano Concerto In B Flat, KV 595: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Sonata No. 3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 1. Allegro con brio
Sonata No. 3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 2. Adagio
Sonata No. 3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
Sonata No. 3 In C, Op.2 No.3: 4. Allegro assai
Sonata No.11 In B Flat, Op.22: 1. Allegro con brio
Sonata No.11 In B Flat, Op.22: 2. Adagio con molta espressione
Sonata No.11 In B Flat, Op.22: 3. Minuetto
Sonata No.11 In B Flat, Op.22: 4. Rondo. Allegretto
Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 1. Allegro
Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 2. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 3. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso
Sonata No.18 In E Flat, Op.31 No.3: 4. Presto con fuoco
Bagatelle In A Minor, WoO 59 'Fur Elise'
6 Ecossaises, WoO 83

Tracks:

6 Variations In F, Op.34: Thema
6 Variations In F, Op.34: Variation I
6 Variations In F, Op.34: Variation II
6 Variations In F, Op.34: Variation III
6 Variations In F, Op.34: Variation IV
6 Variations In F, Op.34: Variation V
6 Variations In F, Op.34: Variation VI - Coda
5 Variations In D, WoO 79 On 'Rule Britannia': Thema
5 Variations In D, WoO 79 On 'Rule Britannia': Variation I
5 Variations In D, WoO 79 On 'Rule Britannia': Variation II
5 Variations In D, WoO 79 On 'Rule Britannia': Variation III
5 Variations In D, WoO 79 On 'Rule Britannia': Variation IV
5 Variations In D, WoO 79 On 'Rule Britannia': Variation V - Coda
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Thema
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Variation I
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Variation II
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Variation III
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Variation IV
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Variation V
6 Variations In G, WoO 70 On 'Nel cor piu non mi sento': Variation VI
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Tema: Vivace
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation I: Alla marcia maestoso
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation II: Poco allegro
Variation III: L'istesso tempo
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation IV: Un poco piu vivace
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation V: Allegro vivace
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation VI: Allegro ma non troppo e serioso
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation VII: Un poco piu allegro
Variation VIII: Poco vivace
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation IX: Allegro pesante e risoluto
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation X: Presto
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XI: Allegretto
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XII: Un poco piu moto
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XIII: Vivace
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XIV: Grave e maestoso
Variation XV: Presto scherzando
Variation XVI: Allegro - Variation XVII
Variation XVIII: Poco moderato
Variation XIX: Presto
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XX: Andante
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXI: Allegro con brio - Meno allegro
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXII: Allegro molto
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXIII: Allegro assai
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXIV: Fughetta. Andante
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXV: Allegro
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXVI
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXVII: Vivace
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXVIII: Allegro
Variation XXIX: Adagio ma non troppo
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXX: Andante, sempre cantabile
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXXI: Largo, molto espressivo
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXXII: Fuga. Allegro - Poco adagio
33 Variations In C, Op.120 On A Waltz By Anton Diabelli: Variation XXXIII: Tempo di minuetto moderato

Tracks:

SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': 1. Allegro assai
SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': 2. Andante con moto
SONATA NO.23 IN F MINOR, OP.57 'APPASSIONATA': 3. Allegro ma non troppo
Andante In F, WoO 57 (Andante favori)
Sonata No.29 in B flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 1. Allegro
Sonata No.29 in B flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 2. Scherzo. Assai vivace
Sonata No.29 in B flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 3. Adagio sostenuto. Apassionata e con molto sentimento
Sonata No.29 in B flat, Op.106 'Hammerklavier': 4. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Tracks:

15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Introduzione col basso del tema - Tema
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation I
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation II
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation III
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation IV
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation V
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation VI-VII
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation VIII
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation IX
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation X
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation XI
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation XII
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation XIII
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Variation XIV-XV
15 Variations And Fuge In E Flat, Op.35 'Eroica Variations': Finale. alla fuga
6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 1. Andante con moto
6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 2. Allegro
6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 3. Andante cantabile e grazioso
6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 4. Presto
6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 5. Quasi allegretto
6 Bagatelles, Op.126: 6. Presto - Andante amabile e con moto - Tempo I
Sonata No.24 In F Sharp, Op.78 'For Therese': 1. Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No.24 In F Sharp, Op.78 'For Therese': 2. Allegro vivace
Sonata No.30 in E, op.109: 1. Vivace, ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo I
Sonata No.30 in E, op.109: 2. Prestissimo
Sonata No.30 in E, op.109: 3. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58: 1. Allegro moderato - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58: 2. Andante con moto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58: 3. Rondo. Vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor': 1. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor': 2. Adagio un poco mosso - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat, Op.73 'Emperor': 3. Rondo. Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Sonata In A Minor, D. 537: 1. Allegro, ma non troppo - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 537: 2. Allegretto quasi andantino - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 537: 3. Allegro vivace - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 664: 1. Allegro moderato - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 664: 2. Andante - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 664: 3. Allegro - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 784: 1. Allegro giusto - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 784: 2. Andante - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 784: 3. Allegro vivace - Schubert
16 German Dances, D. 783 - Schubert

Tracks:

Sonata In C, D. 840: 1. Moderato - Schubert
Sonata In C, D. 840: 2. Andante - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 1. Moderato - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 2. Andante un poco moto - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio. Un poco piu lento - Schubert
Sonata In A Minor, D. 845: 4. Rondo. Allegro vivace - Schubert
Fantasy In C, D. 760 'Wanderer' Fantasy - Schubert

Tracks:

Sonata In D, D. 850: 1. Allegro vivace - Schubert
Sonata In D, D. 850: 2. Con moto - Schubert
Sonata In D, D. 850: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Schubert
Sonata In D, D. 850: 4. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Schubert
Sonata In G, D. 894: 1. Molto moderato e cantabile - Schubert
Sonata In G, D. 894: 2. Andante - Schubert
Sonata In G, D. 894: 3. Menuetto. Allegro moderato - Schubert
Sonata In G, D. 894: 4. Allegretto - Schubert
Allegretto In C Minor, D. 915 - Schubert

Tracks:

Sonata In C Minor, D. 958: 1. Allegro - Schubert
Sonata In C Minor, D. 958: 2. Adagio - Schubert
Sonata In C Minor, D. 958: 3. Menuetto. Allegro - Schubert
Sonata In C Minor, D. 958: 4. Allegro - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 959: 1. Allegro - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 959: 2. Andantino - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 959: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Schubert
Sonata In A, D. 959: 4. Rondo. Allegretto - Schubert
12 German Dances, D. 790 (Ller) - Schubert

Tracks:

Sonata In B Flat, D. 960: 1. Molto moderato - Schubert
Sonata In B Flat, D. 960: 2. Andante sostenuto - Schubert
Sonata In B Flat, D. 960: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza - Schubert
Sonata In B Flat, D. 960: 4. Allegro ma non troppo - Schubert
11 Ecossaises, D. 781 - Schubert
Hungarian Melody In B Minor, D. 817 - Schubert
6 Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 1 In C, en ut majeur - Moderato - Schubert
6 Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 2 In A Flat, As-dur, en la bemol majeur - Andantino - Schubert
6 Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 3 In F Minor, f-moll, en fa mineur - Allegro moderato - Schubert
6 Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 4 In C Sharp Minor, cis-moll, en ut diese mineur - Moderato - Schubert
6 Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 5 In F Minor, f-moll, en fa mineur - Allegro Vivace - Schubert
6 Moments musicaux, D. 780: No. 6 In A Flat, As-dur, en la bemol majeur - Allegretto - Schubert

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In E flat: 1. Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E flat: 2. Quasi adagio - Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato
Piano Concerto No. 1 In E flat: 3. Allegro marziale animato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In A: 1. Adagio sostenuto assai - Allegro agitato assai
Piano Concerto No. 2 In A: 2. Allegro moderato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In A: 3. Allegro deciso - Marziale un poco meno allegro
Piano Concerto No. 2 In A: 4. Allegro animato
Danse macabre, Paraphrase On (Dies Irea): Danse macabre, Paraphrase On Dies Irea
Csardas macabre
Valse oubliee No. 1 In F Sharp

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

Annees de pelerinage - Deuxieme annee: Italie: 7. Apres une lecture de Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata)
Annees de pelerinage - Troisieme annee: 2. Aux cypres de la Villa d'Este. Threnodie No. 1
Annees de pelerinage - Troisieme annee: 4. Les jeux d'eau de la Villa d'Este
Annees de pelerinage - Troisieme annee: 5. Sunt lacrimae rerum (En mode hongrois)
Annees de pelerinage - Troisieme annee: 7. Sursum corda (Erhebet eure Herzen)
Weihnachtsbaum-Suite: 7. Schlummerlied
Weihnachtsbaum-Suite: 9. Abendglocken
Trube Wolken
Klavierstuck In F Sharp, S. 192 No. 3
En Reve - Nocturne
R.W. - Venezia
Vexilla regis prodeunt
Mosonyis Grabgeleit
Schlaflos! Frage und Antwort
Unstern - Sinistre

Tracks:

Sonata In B Minor: Lento assai - Allegro energico
Sonata In B Minor: Andante sostenuto
Sonata In B Minor: Allegro energico-Andante sostenuto-Lento assai
La lugubre gondola No.1
La lugubre gondola No.2
Legendes: 1. Saint Francois d'Assise: la predication aux aiseaux
Legendes: 2. Saint Francois de Paule marchant sur les flots
Harmonies poetiqes et religieuses: No. 7 Funerailles

Tracks:

Fantasia and Fugue on Theme B-A-C-H
Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: No. 1 Invocations
Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: No.3 Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude
Harmonies poetiques et religieuses: No.4 Pensees des morts
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen
Isoldens Liebestod: Isoldens Liebestod: Final Scene From Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde'

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor Op. 15: 1. Maestoso - Poco piu moderato
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor Op. 15: 2. Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro non troppo - Piu animato - Tempo I
Theme And Variations

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat, Op. 83: 1. Allegro non troppo
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat, Op. 83: 2. Allegro appassionato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat, Op. 83: 3. Andante - Piu adagio
Four Ballades, Op. 10: 4. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco piu presto
Four Ballades, Op. 10: No. 1 In D Minor
Four Ballades, Op. 10: No. 2 In D
Four Ballades, Op. 10: No. 3 In B Minor
Four Ballades, Op. 10: No. 4 In B

Tracks:

Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 1. Ausserst bewegt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 2. Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch - Intermezzo I (Sehr lebhaft) - Intermezzo II (Etwas bewegter)
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 3. Sehr aufgeregt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 4. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 5. Sehr lebhaft
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 6. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 7. Sehr rasch
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: 8. Schnell und spielend
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 1. Von fremden Landern und Menschen
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 2. Kuriouse Geschichte
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 3. Haschemann
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 4. Bittendes Kind
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 5. Gluckes genug
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 6. Wichtige Begebenheit
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 7. Traumerei
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 8. Am Kamin
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 10. Fast zu ernst
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 11. Furchtenmachen
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
Kreisleriana, Op. 15: 13. Der Dichter spricht
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 1. Des Abends
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 2. Aufschwung
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 3. Warum?
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 4. Grillen
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 5. In der Nacht
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 6. Fabel
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 7. Traumes-Wirren
Kreisleriana, Op. 12: 8. Ende vom Lied

Tracks:

Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 1. Thema
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 2. Variation III
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 3. Etude I
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 4. Variation I
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 5. Variation II
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 6. Etude II
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 7. Etude III
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 8. Etude IV
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 9. Etude V
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 10. Variation IV
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 11. Etude VI
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 12. Etude VII
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 13. Etude VIII
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 14. Etude IX
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 15. Variation V
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 16. Etude X
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 17. Etude XI
Symphonische Etuden, Op. 13: 18. Etude XII
3 Romances, Op.94: 1. Nicht scnell
3 Romances, Op.94: 2. Einfach, innig
3 Romances, Op.94: 3. Nicht scnell
Abendlied, Op. 85 No. 12
Adagio und Allegro In A Flat, Op. 70
Fantasiestucke, Op. 73: 1. Zart und mit Ausdruck
Fantasiestucke, Op. 73: 2. Lebhaft, leicht
Fantasiestucke, Op. 73: 3. Rasch und mit Feuer

Tracks:

5 Stucke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 2 Langsam
5 Stucke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 3 Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen
5 Stucke im Volkston, Op. 102: No. 4 Nicht zu rasch
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54: Allegro affettuoso
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54: Intermezzo. Andantino gracioso
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54: Allegro vivace
Fantasy In C, Op. 17: Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen- im Legendenton - Tempo primo
Fantasy In C, Op. 17: Massig Durchaus energisch - Etwas langsamer - Viel bewegter
Fantasy In C, Op. 17: Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten - Etwas bewegter

Customer Reviews:

A great compilation.......2004-04-25

Ever since I got a disc of Alfred Brendel playing Beethoven's favourite piano sonatas, I've had a special attention for his recordings and his view on music. To me, he is one of the best examples of a perfectionist. Lazy listeners call his way of playing pedantic but that is completely untrue. Listen more closely to any of is recordings and you'll hear an endless variety of colours, the most shimmering nuances and above all, tremendous warmth. But he is certainly not a perfectionist in the negative sense that is sometimes attached to the word: aside from being imposingly musical, his performances always have a great feeling of 'humanity'. There are many other great performers of the German repertoire (from Haydn to Brahms) but Brendel's recordings have a special familiarity to me, and he gives more than anyone else the feeling to me that the composer's genuine thoughts are present in the performance.

Brendel has a very special tone that accustoms itself very well to many different kinds of pieces. One of the essays in this great set deals with the many different sounds Brendel can create at the piano, something that intrigues me very much too. It is fascinating to hear how he touches the keys in his Mozart and Haydn recordings: here, he gets a sound out of the grand piano that sounds almost like the ancient fortepiano. Combined with his sharp and almost biting playing, he preserves some of the spirit of the time in which the works were composed, but combines this with the much richer and detailed sound of a modern instrument. Haydn's sonatas sparkle and so do Mozart's concertos.

In his Beethoven recordings, which are very well represented in this set, Brendel uses a somewhat similar style, but adapts more to the Beethovenian sound world: his tone is still aggressive but a little mellower and greater. He focuses a lot on small details and plays with a rather gentle sound in the variations, while his Hammerklavier doesn't avoid the grand gesture. The Piano concertos with Levine are full of joy and superbly crisp. Beethoven's works can be performed in a more massive or sweeter way, but that's what other recordings are for.

Brendel's Schubert is very notable for its total avoidance of the sweet and precious image of the composer that has settled somehow. Here, Schubert is presented as an ultimately dark and despairing composer, an image that is very appropriate regarding his general output. While Brendel sometimes tends to calm a bit of the hysteria in pieces like Beethoven's Appassionata, in Schubert he mainly emphasizes it. Hear how he attacks the Wanderer Fantasy, especially in the last minutes. Or how severely he gets the A minor sonata D784 to its throat. This is essentially the way I think Schubert should always sound.

It will be surprising for some to notice how much of Liszt has been recorded by Brendel, and also to hear how they sound. The Liszt recordings in this set show the composer from his most intellectual and imposing side. Brendel may generate an enormous sound that not everyone will associate with him from "Orage" in the Années de Pelerinage, but it is impressive rather than showy. Similarly, the Sonata receives the most detailed and complete performance I've heard, the Piano Concertos are simply stunning on all accounts and the variations on a Bach cantata show both the composer and the performer at their very best. It may be surprising to hear but I think you won't hear any better Liszt than this.

Finally there's a box dedicated to Brahms and Schumann. Brahms is another surprise. Brendel's D minor Concerto is one of the most impressive readings I've heard, close to Serkin/Szell, and his B flat is fine too, if a bit less impressive. His playing style here somewhat resembles that of his Liszt: it is rich, grand and always commanding. Few performers are as well able as Brendel is to match the endlessly complex musical thread of these two concertos. The fourth Ballade op.10 settles among the best readings - Kempff, Arrau, you name them. The Schumann pieces are performed in a way resembling Beethoven's smaller works: they create the same familiar living-room image, and it gets even more beautiful when oboist Heinz Holliger joins him to play a few folksong-like pieces. The set closes with a wonderful Schumann fantasy.

The track listing say that there's a bonus disc included as well, containing Brendel's first recording of Liszt's Christmas Tree suite, but my own set did actually not contain this bonus disc. With or without that disc, this is a set any piano aficionado should not miss. The only drawback can be the price, which is pretty high (not surprising with such a huge set)--if you can find it at all, now that the set seems to be OOP. At any cost, this is one the best box sets I own. If contains a thorough look at one of the most profound and intellectual artists of recent time and gives endless enjoyment.

Liszt.......2001-05-11

I recently purchased the boxed set of just the Liszt items from The Art of Alfred Brendel. I learned to love Schubert piano music by listening to Brendel, but Liszt was something of an exploration. And what a guide to take you on the journey! If you get the opportunity to get the Liszt set don't turn it up in preference to the more respected composers - Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert etc.

Incomparable Brendel.......2000-12-29

I wish to focus on the works of Liszt included in this gargantuan package. Brendel is held in universal esteem, regarded by many as the greatest living pianist. His reputation is of unimpeachable musicality and seriousness of purpose (which does not contradict his ability to find musical humor wherever it lurks). He shows unparalleled ability to get to the musical core of the "Great Repertory" (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms); his performances leave mere pianism far behind. His championing of Liszt's music is especially important for just this reason. Liszt is too often accused of flashy superficiality. Nobody can accuse Brendel of this fault. And his Liszt recordings are among the most intellectual and probing, yet most moving, of any. He reveals Liszt as a daring and supremely important master. The pyrotechnics of the piano concerti are invested with real meaning, and the utterly spare, laconic late pieces become profound meditations on the human condition. His readings of Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude and of the Variations on Bach's "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen" make one grateful for the very existence of music -- and for the capacity to capture it for posterity in recordings.

Beutiful.......2000-04-05

This is beutiful music. I have played some of his pieces on my flute and they are absoultly gorgeous. If you are a true classical music lover then you must buy this and have many nights by the fire with this wonderful music in the backround.