Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Franz Liszt appreciation thread.

Nocturne-esque?? Not "Maiden's Wish"... which pieces are you talking about?

Oh sorry, my mistake. Yes, not Maiden's Wish, although that is part of the cycle. Yeah, they are six pieces in different styles. The one I know best is 'My Joys,' which is Nocturne-esque.

As Charles Rosen memorably observed: Chopin clearly didn't waste any time on them.

One of many instances wherein Liszt made improvements, cf 'Danse Macabre' and the 2nd Paganini etude.

I think all of Liszt's song transcriptions are an improvement over the source, including his own. That is of course, just my opinion.

Wow. How many of Liszt's songs do you know, and have you ever accompanied them with a singer?

I have, and almost all of those I played were beautifully written for both piano and singer.

I agree. Anyone who doubts Chopin's abilities as a song writer are either ignorant or stupid. He was a musical super-genius who happened to also love the opera. I'm SURE if he wanted to put out some great songs he could have -- I don't think he cared though.

I know a few but it doesn't matter, I wouldn't be able to tolerate playing them with a classically trained singer, which is why the transcriptions are an improvement. (to me)

No doubt. There's no reason why he couldn't have been a great song writer.

But he wasn't. Nor was he much of an orchestrator.

*facepalm*

With Chopin's talent he could have done anything.

A fuss is often made about Chopin's weak orchestrations in the piano concertos, but how else would the piano part be properly heard? Tausig and company attempted re-orchestrations, but then they found they had to re-write some of the piano writing so that it could project over a busier orchestration.

No solution there.

Hey now, the "gush over everything Chopin wrote thread" is in the ABF. Let's keep it there, please. (I'm hoping this thread title will keep Mark and Beet from adding a couple of pages of Chopin defense)

Since this great pianist passed away early this year, I figured it would be appropriate to share these.

Interesting -and quite appropriate to share, thank-you!- but I just cannot love that recording. Weissenberg had a technique which must have been the envy of any pianist, but so often I get the impression of a sadistic brutality. Compared to Argerich's quick, silent, and efficient laser printer, Weissenberg sounds like a noisy ink jet printer, droplets of ink saturating the page.

IMO of course.

Of course, Argerich is my favorite Liszt B Minor, but she's not the only recording I'll love.

Ozan Marsh has a great one, actually.

I've discovered a new solo piano piece by Liszt.

Liszt's Oratorio 'Die Legende von der Heiligen Elisabeth' is generally considered to be one of Liszt's weaker large scale works, and i've found it quite dull the first couple times i've listened to it - despite some glorious moments. Of course, i'm going to withold judgement there because it is highly programmatic and i've not listened to it with that in mind, and I certainly haven't come close to digested all 2-3 hours of it.

The orchestral opening is surely one of the highlights of the Oratorio.



Liszt, in his typically masterful manner, transcribed this for the piano. To my ears, the result is a gorgeous solo piano piece that deserves to be performed with regularity.

Gorgeous transcription performed by the inimitable Cyprien Katsaris.

I've recently bought Krystian Zimerman's recording of him performing and conducting the Chopin piano concertos. His interpretation of the orchestra part turns it into a new piece for me. I'd reccomend you take a listen

Browsing youtube, I ran across a midi version of Liszt's Toccata in Am that was accurate and....dreadful. Here is Mark Salman playing the piece. Much, much much better. (I believe this is Gooddogs teacher, is it not?)