Franz Liszt
Despite turning his back on the virtuoso life aged just thirty-five, the Hungarian Franz [Ferenc] Liszt, born on 22 October 1811, 'the year of the Comet,' and living until 31 July 1886, was the greatest transcendental pianist of the 19th century. Extravagant, economic, epic, exquisite, drawing freely on 'the musical compositions of all languages, nations, and epochs from Palestrina to Parsifal' (Busoni), he was a prolific composer and transcriber, whose innovative approach to thematic transformation, harmony and orchestration influenced equally both contemporaries and future progressives - from Wagner (his son-in-law) and the Russians to Mahler, Schoenberg and Bartók. His art, like his personality, famously combined and conflicted the religious, satanic and 'eternal feminine' in a creative tension of involving consequence. AO
A selection of M&V articles about Franz Liszt
Ensemble. Interesting and Dramatic - Liszt's Dante Symphony and Antonio Estévez's Cantata Criolla, heard by Maria Nockin
A Thoughtful Account - Richard Uttley plays Beethoven, Grieg, Britten, Bartók, Debussy, Timothy Jackson, Liszt and Schumann, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
The Magic of Performance - Part II - On the Elusive Nature of the Nationalist Spirit in Music, by Andrew Schartmann
Ensemble. Nimble Playing - Music for saxophone and piano played by Huw Wiggin and James Sherlock, heard by Mike Wheeler
Especially Brilliant - An evening of piano music from Giuseppe Andaloro, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
Innovative Content - A piano journey on the Danube, with Giuseppe Pennisi
Lucidity of Touch - Leonora Armellini plays for the Keyboard Trust, heard by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Cerebral Performances - Liszt-Wagner piano paraphrases, heard by Howard Smith. 'Fisch performs these transcriptions with striking clarity and communicative sensitivity.'
Pianistic Colour - Jong-Gyung Park at Derby Chamber Music impresses Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. The Flame of Music - Malcolm Troup reports on new arrivals from China and Lithuania at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Festival in London
CD Spotlight. Daring and Mastery - Pianist Young-Ah Tak, heard by Bill Newman. '... this CD is worth its weight in gold.'
Boldly Shaped - D'Arcy Trinkwon at the organ of Derby Cathedral, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ask Bill! - Everything you've wanted to know about music (and more) from your self-appointed agony uncle, Bill Newman, who also visits London's Wigmore Hall to hear French pianist Bertrand Chamayou
CD Spotlight. Striking Motifs - Eugene Alcalay plays Liszt, heard by Robert Anderson. 'Alcalay characterises this music admirably.'
CD Spotlight. A Triumphant Achievement - Diabelli variations by Beethoven and others, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... deft conjuring tricks ...'
Ensemble. Luminescently Virtuoso - Erdem Misirlioglu's BPSE competition winner's recital, reviewed by Malcolm Miller
Ensemble. Beauty of Tone - Danill Trifonov's prizewinner's concert from the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition, reviewed by Bill Newman
Ensemble. Superb Playing - Bill Newman listens to a selection of instrumental chamber music in London
Ensemble. Powerfully Expressive - Holst, Howells, Finzi and Liszt from the Derwent Singers, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
South Bank Pianists - Bill Newman listens to Peter Donohoe, Richard Goode and Peter Jablonski
Ensemble. Mesmerising Stillness - Stephen Hough joins Marin Alsop and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Energy and Fire - 'Close Encounters with Music' from Scottsdale, heard by Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Dramatic Breadth - Cyprien Katsaris plays Liszt, heard by Howard Smith. '... seismic and mercurial by turns ...'
Fun-and-games Time - Mike Wheeler listens to Venetian pianist Alessandro Taverna
Ensemble. 2011 Specials - A roundup of London concerts enjoyed by Bill Newman, featuring recitals by Alice Sara Ott, the Emerson Quartet, Martin Fröst and Roland Pontinen, the Orchestra of the Polish EU Presidency, Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä and Roope Grondahl, and Martino Tirimo's Rosamunde Trio
Ensemble. Poetic Insight - A recital by Erdem Misirlioglu, reviewed by Bill Newman
Courage and Finesse - A recital by pianist Arisu Nakao, heard by Bill Newman
Ensemble. Faust versus Faust - Two concerts conducted by Antonio Pappano, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Deliciously Bubbly - James Baillieu plays Beethoven, Schumann, Gottschalk and Paganini via Liszt, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. A Pianistic Tribute - Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays Liszt, heard by Robert Anderson. '... remarkable performance ...'
An Outstanding Evening - Bill Newman listens to American pianist Rorianne Schrade
Ensemble. Beautifully Played - Bill Newman attends two orchestral concerts at London's Royal Festival Hall
Uncommon Joy - Florian Mitrea at London's St Martin-in-the-Fields, heard by Malcolm Troup
CD Spotlight. Hammer and Tongs - Franz Liszt funeral odes, heard by Robert Anderson. 'Orchestra and conductor have all the requisite diablerie.'
Ensemble. Exciting Teamwork - Roderic Dunnett was in Worcester for the 2011 Three Choirs Festival
Turning Gravity into Grace - Malcolm Troup has three encounters with the sublime
Great Things to Come - Malcolm Troup listens to a recital by the all-conquering but still largely unsung pianist Gloria Campaner
CD Spotlight. A No-nonsense Approach - Orchestral music by Richard Strauss, heard by Robert Anderson. '... not quite the whole story.'
Consummate Artists - Malcolm Troup reports on the BPSE Summer Festival at London's Regent Hall, where for the first time Music, not consumerism, called the shots
Structural Thinking - Recitals on the organ at Derby Cathedral by Andrew Dewar, David Briggs and Anthony Hammond, heard by Mike Wheeler
Great Energy - Timothy Byram-Wigfield plays the organ at Derby Cathedral and impresses Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Keyboard Diablerie - Beethoven Sonatas and Symphonies, heard by Robert Anderson. '... stunning performance ...'
New Contexts - Malcolm Miller reports on a recent Symposium on Beethoven's Diabelli Variations
CD Spotlight. Compelling and Pleasurable - Arthur Friedheim plays Liszt, Chopin, Gottschalk and Henselt, heard by Patric Standford. '... a slightly improvisatory interpretation ...'
Ensemble. Serious Intentions - Bill Newman listens to Stephen Hough
CD Spotlight. Unaffected Restraint - Halida Dinova plays music that tells stories, heard by Howard Smith. '... a mesmerising interpreter ...'
CD Spotlight. Striking Power - Leslie Howard plays Rachmaninov, heard by Howard Smith. '... a staggering technique.'
Ensemble. Tuning in Afresh - Bill Newman listens to Bulgarian pianist Vesselin Stanev
CD Spotlight. Outside the Box - A recital by Gunnar Johansen, heard by Howard Smith. '... a floodtide of seismic power and romantic fervor ...'
Ensemble. A Great Success - Sergey Sobolev plays Chopin, Liszt and Schumann, heard by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Positively Spellbinding - Music for clarinet, piano and cello, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... a fine recording ...'
Ensemble. Great Delicacy - Mike Wheeler listens to the Hallé Orchestra in Liszt, Schumann and Brahms
Ensemble. Unmissable Talents - An array of artists at London's Wigmore Hall, reviewed by Bill Newman
Perfection Itself - Michail Lifits at London's Wigmore Hall delights Bill Newman
Ensemble. Zip and Sparkle - Alexandra Dariescu plays Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin and Constantin Silvestri, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. High Standards - Bill Newman listens to various artists at London's Wigmore Hall
CD Spotlight. Delicate Mastery - Orchestral music by Glazunov, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... dashingly done ...'
Absolutely Outstanding - Kotaro Fukuma's performances of Schumann, Chopin and Liszt amaze Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Unjustly Neglected - Orchestral tone poems by Boughton and Bainton impress Robert Anderson. '... performed with conviction and sensitivity ...'
New Year Blues - A roundup of recent London concerts by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Finely Displayed - Alfred Brendel plays Liszt, recommended by Robert Anderson. 'Michael Gielen backs Brendel's eloquence with unobtrusive skill.'
CD Spotlight. Aristocratic in Inspiration - Matthew Cameron plays Liszt, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... dignity and eloquence.'
CD Spotlight. Wonderfully Deft - Choral and orchestral music by Camille Saint-Saëns, heard by Robert Anderson. 'The London Philharmonic under Geoffrey Simon gives of its best ...'
Confidently Entertaining - A recital by John Paul Ekins delights Bill Newman
Command and Panache - Russian pianist Rustem Kudoyarov, heard by Mary Isaac
Ensemble. Superb Pianism - A London recital by Julian Jacobson, heard by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. A Blistering Whirlwind - More from the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. A Wondrous Variety - Piano music by Chopin and Liszt, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Dominic Piers Smith survives not only intact but triumphant ...'
CD Spotlight. Exciting Listening - Mykola Suk plays Liszt, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... a mastery and range of expression ...'
Liszt with Languid Ease - Christopher Herrick at Derby Cathedral, heard by Tony Westerman
CD Spotlight. Striking Originality - Piano music by Moscheles, Mendelssohn and Schumann, heard by Robert Anderson. '...Todd Crow deserves unstinted gratitude.'
CD Spotlight. Enviable Ease - Irena Portenko plays Chopin, recommended by Robert Anderson. '... easy fluidity of touch and tone ...'
A Performance to Remember - A recital by Emanuel Rimoldi impresses Bill Newman
Ensemble. Impeccable Standards - Bill Newman's pick of June and July concerts at London's Wigmore Hall
Wondrously Expansive - Ronan Magill's recital at London's Wigmore Hall impresses Robert Anderson
Linear Clarity - Julian Jacobson's Wigmore Hall recital impresses Malcolm Miller
Ensemble. Limpid Clarity - 'The Barber of Baghdad' by Peter Cornelius, experienced by Mike Wheeler
Flowers of Light - Puccini's 'I crisantemi' as a pedagogical tool for piano performance majors, by Heidi Lowy
Ensemble. Neatly Balanced - A City Lit music gala, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller
Profile. Important Skills - Maria Nockin talks to American mezzo Dolora Zajick
CD Spotlight. Thrilling Mastery - Tanja Becker-Bender plays Paganini, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... sparkling clarity and power ...'
Ensemble. A Cross Section - Bill Newman comments on some recent concerts at London's Wigmore Hall
Mature and Considered - Stephen Savage plays Beethoven, heard by Julian Jacobson
CD Spotlight. Sterling Playing - Wendy Warner's interpretations of Popper and Piatigorsky, heard by Howard Smith. '... sovereign music-making deserving of the highest accolades.'
CD Spotlight. Brilliantly Portrayed - Friedrich Klose's 'Ilsebill', praised by Gerald Fenech. '... a risky yet rewarding adventure ...'
CD Spotlight. Utterly Absorbing - A sampler from Cedille Records, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... top quality standards.'
Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton
CD Spotlight. Formidable Pianism - Beethoven arranged by Liszt, heard by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Unity of Conception - Malcolm Troup was at the BPSE Summer Festival in London
Highly Effective - Peter Gould helps celebrate the seventieth anniversary of Derby Cathedral's Compton Organ, as noted by Mike Wheeler
A Liquid Lunch - A recital by Evelyne Berezovsky, heard by Julian Jacobson
Cumulative Weight - Mike Wheeler listens to Peter Williams at the organ of Derby Cathedral
Ensemble. A Sparkling Account - The Kanazawa-Admony Piano Duo pays tribute to Carola Grindea, reviewed by Malcolm Miller
Ensemble. True Artistry - Howard Smith attends New Zealand's Music Fair of Japan 2009
CD Spotlight. Evident Sympathy - Major piano works by Schubert, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Lipkin understands well how to respect the silences ...'
Ensemble. Excellent Throughout - A lunchtime piano recital by Maiko Mori, heard by Bill Newman
Ensemble. Exceptional Gifts - Lawrence Budmen reports from the 2009 Miami International Piano Festival
CD Spotlight. A Real Work-out - Jane Parker-Smith at the organ of St Gudula, Rhede, enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz
Caressing Hands - Andrejs Osokins at London's St Martin-in-the-Fields, heard by Julian Jacobson
The Composer's Conundrum? - Alistair Hinton comments on Gordon Rumson's recent article
The Composer's Conundrum - Gordon Rumson has some bad news about creativity and self-promotion
Intrinsic Virtue - A concert and Handel exhibition at London's Foundling Museum, reviewed by Malcolm Miller
Pure Fashion? - Several Composers in Search of an Identity, by Béla Hartmann
Rare Talent - Young Concert Artists Trust recitals, reviewed by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Dancing Goblins - Music by Bazzini, heard by Howard Smith. '... Hanslip brings it off with suitable aplomb.'
Ensemble. High Spirits - Freddy Kempf and the Moscow Philharmonic, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Real Barnburner - Another report from this summer's Tanglewood Festival, by Lawrence Budmen
An Interesting Programme - An organ recital by Martin Neary, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. New Thinking - Maria Nockin experiences an updated version of Verdi's 'La Traviata'
Temperament and Imagination - Alberto Portugheis enjoys a recital by the Romanian-American pianist Eugene Alcalay
The bottom of my lis(z)t?? - Alistair Hinton comments on Patric Standford's recent Provocative Thoughts
Ensemble. A Degree of Truth - A spring remembrance concert for the Armenian victims of 1915, reviewed by Bill Newman
The Wandering Traveller - Kelly Ferjutz delves further into Richard Wagner and the forthcoming symposium in Ohio
Why Canton? - On the creation of an international Wagner symposium, by Kelly Ferjutz
Ensemble. Robust and Vigorous - Saint-Saëns' 'Samson and Delilah', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Colourful Renditions - Recitals by Denitsa Laffchieva and Evelina Puzaite, reviewed by Bill Newman
Ensemble. Creative Heritage - Regrets and remedies, the Wigmore way, by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Intense Seriousness - A recital by Canadian pianist Robert Silverman, recommended by Gordon Rumson
A Radiant Performance - Ashley Wass in Derby, assessed by Mike Wheeler
DVD Spotlight. Much Resonance - Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Ramallah, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... an orchestra of first-class accomplishment.'
Rhythmic Bounce - Peter Gould at the organ of Derby Cathedral, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Intelligent and Cogent - Julian Jacobson attended the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Celebrity Festival
Old-time virtuosity stages a comeback - Daniel Grimwood at St Martin-in-the-Fields, reviewed by Malcolm Troup
The Big Statement - An organ recital by John Keys, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. A Pianistic Phenomenon - Malcolm Troup was at Qian Wu's recent London South Bank recital
Ensemble. One Generation 4 Another - Malcolm Miller was at the Lord's Taverner's charity pop concert at London's Royal Albert Hall
Ensemble. Breathtaking Pianism - Malcolm Miller was at Ian Hobson's Wigmore Hall piano recital
CD Spotlight. Something for Everyone - A new CD from The 5 Browns, enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz. '... charming, vivacious, passionate and gorgeously performed.'
Ensemble. Expansively Romantic - Teatro Lirico d'Europa's 'La Traviata', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Deeply satisfying - A piano recital by Jane Ford, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. The ideal match - Celebrating the tenth series of live music at London's Wallace Collection, by Bill Newman
Ensemble. A musical treasure - Polina Osetinskaya displays fiery command in Beethoven and Liszt, appreciated by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Bravura virtuosity - Lawrence Budmen was at the Miami International Piano Festival
Provocations - Alistair Hinton and Chad Wozniak discuss Patric Standford's recent 'Provocative Thoughts'
Ensemble. Liszt on Wagner's Steinway - Malcolm Miller applauds a young artist in the Festspiel-Soirée Series at the Wahnfried in Bayreuth
Ensemble. Magnificent playing - Mûza Rubackyté in recital, and on disc, appreciated by Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Interlinking resonances - A song recital by Malena Ernman, reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... lively and charmingly refreshing ...'
Record box. Devotional pieces - David Barela plays Liszt, reviewed by Patric Standford
Ensemble. An evening full of Hampsongs - by Sissy von Kotzebue
Ensemble. An exciting career ahead - Manus Carey listens to Chinese pianist Wu Qian
Ensemble. Ravel chestnut - A dazzling arrangement of 'Bolero' for two pianos, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
CD Spotlight. Brave heart - Angela Lear's search for the essential Chopin, by Gordon Rumson. '... heroic single-mindedness.'
Record box. Reaching for the moon - Zeynep Ucbasaran plays Liszt, reviewed by David Thompson
CD Spotlight. Mane-shaking style - Martin Berkofsky plays Liszt, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... playing often as sensitive as one is likely to hear.'
Ensemble. Bold individuality - Malcolm Miller enjoys a performance by an outstanding young Hungarian duo at the Wallace Collection
Whirlwind of activity - Gordon Rumson recommends Charles Barber's book 'Lost in the Stars: The Forgotten Musical Life of Alexander Siloti'
CD Spotlight. Fire and brimstone? - Fabio Grasso plays Rubinstein, and Gordon Rumson raises some serious issues. '... great elan and vibrancy.'
CD Spotlight. Mephistopheles in attendence - The playing of Marina Milic-Apostolovic, enjoyed by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Spotlight in Miami - Gifted artists at the International Piano Festival, by Lawrence Budmen
Performing practices - Pianist Danny Driver talks to Bill Newman
Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - no composers, thank you!
Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - meanings
Profile. A singing instrument - Martino Tirimo discusses the piano and its music with Bill Newman
CD Spotlight. Constantly thrilling - Frederic Chiu plays Liszt, and Robert Anderson listens. '... magical sonorities and supersonic speeds ...'
Ensemble. Liszt at lunchtime - Eri Niiyama gives a recital in Tokyo's Suntory Hall, and Keith Bramich listens
Ensemble. Hour of Magic - Malcolm Miller is enthralled by seldom-heard East European music
Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey. Daily ritual - Switching nightmares for daymares
CD Spotlight. An aviator of the piano - A unique recording of Russian pianist Samuel Feinberg, reviewed by John Bell Young
Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - the piano
Teenage talent - Malcolm Miller hears Asuka Nakamura at Leighton House, London
CD Spotlight - Poetic best. '... a white-hot listening experience.' Jorge Bolet's rediscovered Liszt recital, by Igor Kipnis
Iberian spice - Malcolm Miller attends a recital by Mats Lidström and Alberto Portugheis
Stage presence - Keith Bramich listens to soprano Anya Szreter in London's Regent Hall
CD Spotlight - Musical eloquence. 'The playing under Alexander Anissimov is as accomplished as the music.' Glazunov symphonies, with Robert Anderson
Beguiling interpretations - Liszt transcriptions in performance - a London début recital, with Malcolm Miller
Planning your collection - Faust, Iona Brown and Percy Grainger
Planning your collection - Stefan Jess and Barbara Moser; Louis Lortie and George Pehlivanian
Planning your collection - Jess and Moser -
Planning your collection - Sam Haywood -
Planning your collection - Luiza Borac -
Planning your collection - Lukas Vondracek -
Planning your collection - Global Fascinations and Sophistications - Schubert's piano works for four hands, Liszt transcriptions, and the piano music of Nikolai Kapustin and Alfredo Casella, with Bill Newman
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