Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Liszt's sonata on an 1849 Erard

Maybe some persons here will find this interesting to hear. Below is part one of three.

[video:youtube]qkPPxoH4Dx4[/video]

Yes, it was interesting, though I missed the repeated low A beginning at 4:03. I would assume the 1849 Erard didn't go down that far? Yet by 1852, Liszt certainly wrote for a piano with that compass, and intended a low A to be used.

I give wide birth to the 'period instrument folks' (we don't really get along ) concerning the performance of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, but with due respect I do not see what is gained by playing the Liszt Sonata on anything other than a modern concert grand.

It is fortunate that Liszt lived long enough to hear and play pianos which approach those we take for granted today. IMO, since Liszt was always so forward looking, it seems unlikely that he would have had much nostalgia for the early Erards.

Thanks for posting this Michael, it is indeed interesting. The recording is obviously not professional quality so it's a bit difficult to asses the real differences between this and any other piano. I agree with Jason that period instrument performances are more appropriate for earlier composers. The lack of sustain of the early fortepianos was an important aspect of what the composers of the time had to work with. This instrument is closer to modern piano sound and is obviously quite capable, just not quite what we're used to. It's a fine performance and it reminded me of an awesome piece I haven't listened to for a while. I was a bit disappointed when it stopped, I wanted it to go on.

Thanks,

Hi Steve,

Here is some Liszt on a very nice Erard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKvka52cGRw

I'm not sure what year the piano is but it sounds a bit like this unrestored 1878 Erard which is pretty good for an almost 140 year old piano.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=docWp_IJiXw

The most revealing recording of Liszt's music on a period instrument is in my opinion the one below. The very dark sounding 1873 Steingraeber is used to relentlessly reveal the emotional pain, anguish, and at times the spiritual ecstasy, of Liszt's later piano music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLV6AFv91QM