Are many others here familar with this piece/performance? Every time I hear it, it takes me breath away more than the last time, especially the 'A' sections.

What a coincidence. I was talking to a friend just this afternoon about this very performance.It is absolutely amazing ... and a live performance to boot!

I heard that live at Carnegie Hall.

A nice simple program including:
Bach/Busoni:Chaconne
Chopin:Preludes
Strauss/Tausig:One Lives But Once
Strauss/Schulz-Evler: Blue Danube
Wagner/Liszt:Tanhauser

If I had to play at Carnegie Hall (however wildly removed from reality the premise),
I doubt I'd be able to walk across the stage to the piano, or if I made it that far, unclench my sweat drenched fists sufficiently to play a single note.

I don't care how good I was, I could never function in such a situation. I'd rather take the gas pipe :>)

This performance is absolutely spectacular! It's one of my desert island recordings. As we mature as pianists, we re-evaluate our ideals of difficulty. I remember in my early days when I thought if I could play Mozart's Turkish March, I would be someone who could really PLAY. For a time, Liszt's HR #2 became my ideal, and it took a good deal longer before I was able to conquer that one. But ever since I discovered the Tannhauser Overture transcription (first in it's "Grand Piano" label rendition, recorded on piano roll by Ignaz Friedman and later in Bolet's version), it has represented the zenith of my aspirations.