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I'm trying to listen to really passionate music, such passionate as the Transcendental Etude No.10 by Liszt or the Symphony No.2 by Rachmaninoff. Btw, my favorite piece in this field is Reminiscences de Norma by Liszt :), it's so passionate and emotional. Can you list some other options??
Rachmaninoff Etude–Tableau in E Flat Minor, Op. 39 no. 5 comes to mind immediately.
His studio recording from the early 1960's is even better; that is a live recording. I chose it because it is one of those wonderful vids that has the music right along with it.
Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear weapons.
I never heard before this interpretation, Horowitz really brings all the emotions out with a highly intense and sublime performance:). Thanks His Rach 3 is one of my favorite by the way. Horowitz is in my top 5 pianists haha. Have you heard his Sonetto del 104 Petrarca?
I never heard before this interpretation, Horowitz really brings all the emotions out with a highly intense and sublime performance:). Thanks His Rach 3 is one of my favorite by the way. Horowitz is in my top 5 pianists haha. Have you heard his Sonetto del 104 Petrarca?
Jason
No problem!
I have heard his Sonetto 104 del Petrarcha. Wonderful!
Speaking of Rach 3, be sure to hear his 1951 recording with Reiner if you have not. There is one unfortunate cut made, but it surely is his ultimate achievement in the piece.
See this one too:
Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear weapons.
I watched that performance. It's incredible the way he played that. Btw, have you ever read the book "Evenings with Horowitz" by David Dubal? Magnificent book!! You can learn a lot about Horowitz there.
My three all time favourite works are Beethoven's 9th Symphony (choral), Mozart's Requiem Mass in C Minor and Brahm's Double Concerto.
But for pianistic passion, intensity and difficulty the crown surely must go to Liapunov and his 12 transcental etudes (after Liszt) with Albeniz' Iberian Suite coming a close 2nd.
You play it & I'll hum it, but currently rehearsing:
Bach WTC book 2 no 15 G major, no 20 A minor, no 22 Bb Minor Mozart A minor Sonata K310 Mendelssohn Op 35 preludes and fuges Busoni Carmen Fantasy Rachmaninov Bb prelude OP 23 no 2 Lyapunov Humoreske Op 34 and others
Chopin's Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise in E Flat, Op. 22... That's an amazing piece (or pieces depending on the recording as it's often split), as is his Ballade in G Minor Op. 23/2.
I could also recommend Liszt's Mephisto Waltz #2, S. 515
Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor BWV 542, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata: 3. Presto Agitato Op. 27/2 Chopin: Scherzo No. 2 in B Flat Minor Op. 32, Ballade #1 in G Minor Op. 23/2 Liszt: La Campanella S.140/3, Grand Galop Chromatique S.219 Rachmaninov: Preludes Op. 23
I'm biased because it's a lot of what I'm playing now, but, to me the height of "intense" at least right now is SCRIABIN. I'm focusing mostly on late Scriabin which is not very 'accessible' for a lot of people but which is certainly extremely intense, although often in a quiet way. A couple of specific pieces: Vers la Flamme ("Toward the Flame") Sonata #9 (Black Mass)
