Is there a "Late Liszt List"?

[George]

Baerboimks Liszt is excellent.

[not edward]

I see Brilliant Classics (bless them) has issued a brand new late Liszt collection with Michele Campanella (I didn't even realize he was still alive) playing on Liszt's own Bechstein. Many of the usual standbys (La lugubre gondola, Unstern!, Bagatelle sans tonalite aren't here, though Nuages gris, Am Grabe Richard Wagners, the Valses oubliees and the Historiche Ungarische Bildnisse are.

[asin]B004Z34N74[/asin]

Definitely worth the modest outlay--perhaps the performances are a little reserved, but they're infinitely superior to Leslie Howard's butchery of many of the same works.

[George]

This may be only obliquely on topic, but if you have to beg, borrow or steal, do hear this incredible 2 CD set:





I have never heard such exquisite poetry in Liszt's music before. A true delight!

[not edward]

Looks like a reprint of this 1986 Acanta release:



The Acanta release was issued on the centenary of Liszt's death; while the brillant release is issued on the bi-centary of his birth. Hopefully. there will be more releases in between.

Actually, no, it has an almost entirely different program, and was recorded in February (pieces in common are Sancta Dorothea, Am Grabe Richard Wagners and the 4th Valse oubliee).

[snyprrr]

Never too late to discuss late Liszt.

Yes, there is a distinct and distinctive late Liszt, who seemed determined to destroy tonality. As distinctive as late Beethoven.

And what a long way he came, this Liszt, from the overly brilliant and success-oriented young man who sought to outshine Paganini, to the deepened and despairing priest of the latter years!

His late music had little direct influence, though (except perhaps on Messiaen, Messiaen's Preludes especially, and also Satie - see Abschied R.104 for a Satiesque Liszt)), because his heirs, who thought he had gone senile, did not include his late compostions in their posthumous edition of his complete music.

Bid guns such as Pollini and Zimerman tend to record pieces like La Lugubre Gondole and Nuages Gris. For the rest of Late Liszt, there are commendable recordings (ie, so much better than Leslie Howard), by Andreas Muehlen-Wester on Aurophon:



Sergio Fiorentino on Appian:



Erno Szegedi on Hungaroton:



And Andrea Bonatta on Astree:



Come to think of it, I may have been misleading when I suggested the big guns tended to play only Nuages Gris and Gondole Lugubre; unless the lovely Dezso Ranki failed to deliver on his promise to grow a long barrel (Harmonia Mundi):



And unless Alfred Brendel lost his gun when hanging it up; in which case, not so well-hung, the... gun (Philips):




On several of these CD's there is a piece called En reve, Nocturne (1885) that's as good as the 3rd Reve d'Amour, but unspoiled by celebrity.

Csardas Obtine is like a Hungarian Rhapsody, but more pessimistic - a rhapsody for a defeated Hungary.

In the younger Liszt the longing for tenderness is hidden by fulfilled sexual quest; in late Liszt all there is left is an unfulfilled longing for tenderness.

The despair in pieces like Lugubre Gondola and Csardas Macabre and Unstern: Sinistre. Disastro can be unbearable. Nor can we shake it off, when we are hooked to it. That is why we keep replaying these cd's over and over and over again...

Erno Szegedi's seems like the most representative selection, I'd say, so is Bonatta's.


If you can't stand the art work on the Philips edition of the Brendel recording (vol. 4 of the Alfred Brendel collection, in case the sale sites don't list it as late Liszt, pun not intended), you can always go for the Gramophone reprint:

Considering Late Liszt Piano Music. who who who???...

[not edward]

I would have sworn Brendel also recorded Bagatelle sans Tonalité but I can't figure out where. Maybe next time.

He recorded it for Vox, certainly. Don't know if he did for Philips.

[snyprrr]

I see Brilliant Classics (bless them) has issued a brand new late Liszt collection with Michele Campanella (I didn't even realize he was still alive) playing on Liszt's own Bechstein. Many of the usual standbys (La lugubre gondola, Unstern!, Bagatelle sans tonalite aren't here, though Nuages gris, Am Grabe Richard Wagners, the Valses oubliees and the Historiche Ungarische Bildnisse are.

[asin]B004Z34N74[/asin]

Definitely worth the modest outlay--perhaps the performances are a little reserved, but they're infinitely superior to Leslie Howard's butchery of many of the same works.

It's so hard to get all these pieces together.

[snyprrr]

Does anyone have the von Immersell(sic)?

[Karl Henning]

Does anyone have the von Immersell(sic)?

Yes, and it is brilliant.

[snyprrr]

Yes, and it is brilliant.

Oo Oo, tell me how much!! There's cello on it too? It's not on Amazon USA,... wait,...

[The new erato]

Does anyone have the von Immersell(sic)?

I tried to order it a year ago (or slightly less) but got the message that it was discontinued. If anybody succeds in buying it, please tell us.

[The new erato]

Baerboimks Liszt is excellent.

As a champion of fingertrouble in posts on this board, I'll have to admit I'm finally beat. I admit defeat and bow my head in deference to the supreme master.

[pjme]

It is JOS van IMMERSEEL ! And he's Belgian.

See & read more at http://animaeterna.be/

immer seel(e) = anima eterna

Claude Debussy is next on Jos' program. Even "La mer".

Check also out Claire Chevalier's recent Liszt cd



Read more about her at http://www.clairechevallier.com/


P.

[The new erato]

Yes, very nice play on Immerseel = always soul = anima eterna.

[Karl Henning]

Subconsciously, I picked up on that, I think . . . .

[snyprrr]

I see Brilliant Classics (bless them) has issued a brand new late Liszt collection with Michele Campanella (I didn't even realize he was still alive) playing on Liszt's own Bechstein. Many of the usual standbys (La lugubre gondola, Unstern!, Bagatelle sans tonalite aren't here, though Nuages gris, Am Grabe Richard Wagners, the Valses oubliees and the Historiche Ungarische Bildnisse are.

[asin]B004Z34N74[/asin]

Definitely worth the modest outlay--perhaps the performances are a little reserved, but they're infinitely superior to Leslie Howard's butchery of many of the same works.

Wow, this some really really spare stuff. And this recording is pretty intimate, meaning, no real acoustic to carry the notes. But, this is not a bad thing here,... the music really shines through. It might sound as if the old man himself were playing for himself. So far, the Romance oubliee seems the most wrought, the Toccata is short and sweet, but most of it is one note at a time territory, very hard to pull off. Here, the non assuming presentation is a benefit, though, I'd love to hear a more cavernous sound maybe?

Yea, I scoffed at hearing 'real' depressing music, but, Resignazione really delivers. One does hear Liszt's sadness in these pieces, sincerity no doubt!

Now I need some Busoni...

[Leo K.]

Wow, this some really really spare stuff. And this recording is pretty intimate, meaning, no real acoustic to carry the notes. But, this is not a bad thing here,... the music really shines through. It might sound as if the old man himself were playing for himself. So far, the Romance oubliee seems the most wrought, the Toccata is short and sweet, but most of it is one note at a time territory, very hard to pull off. Here, the non assuming presentation is a benefit, though, I'd love to hear a more cavernous sound maybe?

Yea, I scoffed at hearing 'real' depressing music, but, Resignazione really delivers. One does hear Liszt's sadness in these pieces, sincerity no doubt!

Now I need some Busoni...

This disk of Afanassiev is my introduction to a few of Lizst's late works, I too am surprised at the stark, darkness of these works. They very much remind me of the horrifying nature of Kubrick's film Eyes Wide Shut, and the music used in the movie: Ligeti's piano cycle "Musica ricercata" and a late work of Liszt, "Nuages Gris".

[snyprrr]

This disk of Afanassiev is my introduction to a few of Lizst's late works, I too am surprised at the stark, darkness of these works. They very much remind me of the horrifying nature of Kubrick's film Eyes Wide Shut, and the music used in the movie: Ligeti's piano cycle "Musica ricercata" and a late work of Liszt, "Nuages Gris".

Oh how naughty, showing us Mr. Unavailable!! Uh!!

[snyprrr]

I see Brilliant Classics (bless them) has issued a brand new late Liszt collection with Michele Campanella (I didn't even realize he was still alive) playing on Liszt's own Bechstein. Many of the usual standbys (La lugubre gondola, Unstern!, Bagatelle sans tonalite aren't here, though Nuages gris, Am Grabe Richard Wagners, the Valses oubliees and the Historiche Ungarische Bildnisse are.

[asin]B004Z34N74[/asin]

Definitely worth the modest outlay--perhaps the performances are a little reserved, but they're infinitely superior to Leslie Howard's butchery of many of the same works.

I finally finished this off, and I'm finding I just can't get too into this stuff. I YT'd Busoni, and he sounds a bit like late Liszt (but with the virtuosity still intact), and after an hour of Busoni I was much less inclined to pick up a collection. This stuff almost reminds me of Satie on opium or something,... I don't know, there was a couple of melodies, the 5th Hungarian portrait (Petofi)...

I feel kind of dirty after this and Busoni,... I'm wondering about the 'decomposition of the bourgeosie (that's spell check... doesn't look right)' at the end of the century,... the putrefication (sic)... Baudelaire's swan...

This stuff has put me on my ear.

[Karl Henning]

As for me, I love that disc.