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
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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