Well said -- and that's just it when it comes to pieces like this. (Even more so for a similar other thread about another piece that shall remain nameless -- even though you said it isn't!)

And in this case there would seem to be issues about the mere notes also, since (as several people have said) the piece is probably significantly harder than anything else that the person has played. But even if not, what you said would apply.

(Want to say why you think this about the Liszt, but not the other piece?? Seems to me like an odd juxtaposition!)

I said that the other piece on the other thread (my god, this is getting confusing) would be manageable by the other person because said person has more experience with rather difficult pieces. Also, the conservatory setting forces people to refine pieces much more quickly. e.g.: I began Les Adieux the summer before entering university as a piano performance major. I had struggled dearly with the piece, interpretation wise, for months. 4.5 later (now), I'm comfortable performing it because I finally had 3 lessons on just this piece, and devoted 4.5 hours of practice per day on this piece alone. Beforehand, I was just shooting in the dark about how to make the piece speak. I assumed the OP might have a similar problem, as he made no reference to having a skilled professor's help. I thought OP on the other post would have a lot more help, and would have been able to get all of the notes down in 1-2 weeks, then devote lots of time to the interpretation of the piece.

Also, the importance of event comes into play here. Playing a piece that has not fully blossomed under your hand is very risky at an audition. A non-degree recital is not graded or judged (at least not at my school), thus making an "almost there, just missing a hint of something" piece a tad more acceptable.

Nice answer!
I mean, I see it differently (need I say!) but very nice answer -- it works, according to how ones sees the Chopin ballade, and how one sees Chopin vs. Liszt.

I did, however, have to retract my statement about Chopin speaking easier than Liszt. I must have been thinking about preludes or waltzes, and not the ballades.

Good!
I was willing to accept the other thing as a reasonable difference of opinion, very broadly considered ....but I didn't understand it.

You could also have said it about other pieces of Chopin, such as most of the Polonaises -- and maybe, maybe even about a Ballade or two or three -- but, IMO, not that piece.

Horowitz MET recording with the Beethoven late piano sonata is so haunting in the introduction not even Bolet give it that color. But Horowitz play the b theme always brings me to tears.