Liszt: Masterpieces for Solo Piano, Vol. 2

Franz Liszt (Composer), Russell Sherman (Performer), Earl Wild (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Russell Sherman, Earl Wild
• Composer: Franz Liszt
• Audio CD (April 27, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Vanguard Classics
• ASIN: B0001CCXBG
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,922 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Preludio

2. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Molto Vivace

3. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Paysage (Landscape)

4. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Mazeppa

5. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Feux Follets (he Wisps)

6. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Vision

7. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Eroica

8. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Wilde Jagd (Wild Hunt)

9. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Recordanza (Remembrance)

10. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): Allegro agitato molto

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Réminiscences de Robert le diable: Valse infernale, transcription for piano (after Meyerbeer), S. 413 (LW A78)

2. Gnomenreigen, for piano (Zwei Konzertetüden No. 2), S. 145/2 (LW A218/2)

3. Mephisto-Polka (I & II), for piano, S. 217 (LW A317)

4. Mephisto Waltz (I & II), for piano No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke), S. 514 (LW A189)

5. Réminiscences de Don Juan (I & II), for piano (after Mozart: Don Giovanni), S. 418 (LW A80)

6. Valse de l'opéra Faust, transcription for piano (after Gounod), S. 407 (LW A208)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Russell Sherman's classic recording of Liszt's Transcendental Etudes, January 24, 2006

By 

Raul M. (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Liszt: Masterpieces for Solo Piano, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

This recording was originally released on cassette by Advent in 1973 which resulted in Russell Sherman gaining international recognition. In 1977 it was released as a double LP by Vanguard. This is a classic recording of Liszt's Transcendental Etudes. The second disc consists of Earl Wild's famous 1968 "Demonic Liszt" recital. This 2-CD set is a bargain. Buy it now!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pianism of first order!, April 5, 2006

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liszt: Masterpieces for Solo Piano, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Having bought this album on the old vinyl format in the middle seventies, I found it very pleasant to listen, because as all we know, Earl Wild is much more than a simple virtuous keyboard player. His musical thoughts may be felt in every single track.

On the other hand Earl Wild and Michael Ponti are at this moment the only survivors of the last Romantic School and that means we are in front the last exponents of a musical tradition.

In the case of Russell Scherman I find him a very solvent piano player. His [...] is clean and precise and he possesses that required technique to shine with those hard to play piano works.

So take this statement into account when you decide to bet for this golden CD, because the final result is even better than the sum of the parts. Absolutely recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, February 8, 2008

By 

Dean Brown (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liszt: Masterpieces for Solo Piano, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

I bought this CD set for the second disk - Earl Wild's Demonic Liszt, which I could not find seperately. The Demonic is astonishing in every way, and will only satisfy. Don Juan has never been played like this, IMHO.

The other disk is Russel Sherman's Transcendental Etudes. Now, though my favorite version of this set is Claudio Arrau's, Mr Sherman's rendition is this: If you ever wanted to slow down a piece of piano music and actually hear all the fine detail, this is the version for you! And although it's very very slow, there is a magnificent touch, making this a most enjoyable set. If ever you wanted to learn a piece and need to hear it in slow motion, try this for size! 5 stars.

-Dean