Liszt: Oeuvres pour Piano / Piano Works [Box set, Import]

György Cziffra (Artist), Georges Cziffra (Artist), Franz Liszt (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Franz Liszt
• Audio CD (July 29, 2002)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00005IA06
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,675 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Rhaps Hongroises: No.1 in E

2. Rhaps Hongroises: No.2 in c#

3. Rhaps Hongroises: No.3 in B flat

4. Rhaps Hongroises: No.4 in E flat

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Rhaps Hongroises: No.10 in E 'Prld'

2. Rhaps Hongroises: No.11 in a

3. Rhaps Hongroises: No.12 in c#

4. Rhaps Hongroises: No.13 in a

See all 7 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Douze Etudes D'execution Transcendant: No.1 in C 'Prld'

2. Douze Etudes D'execution Transcendant: No.2 in a 'Fusees'

3. Douze Etudes D'execution Transcendant: No.3 in F 'Paysage'

4. Douze Etudes D'execution Transcendant: No.4 in d 'Mazeppa'

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Mephisto-Valse, D'apres Le Faust De Lenau, 'Der Tanz in Der Dorfschenke'

2. Annees De Pelerinage, III: L'Italie: Les Jeux D'eau A La villa D'Este

3. Valse Oubliee No.1 in F#

4. Valse-Impromptu in A flat

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 5

1. Ballade No.2 in b

2. Polonaise No.1 in c

3. Saint Francois D'Assise: La Predication Aux Oiseaux, Legende No.1

4. Saint Francois De Paule Marchant Sur Les Flots, Legende No.2

See all 5 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LEGENDARY LISZT by CZIFFRA, May 11, 2003

By 

Mr. Alan Thorpe "Albeson" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liszt: Oeuvres pour Piano / Piano Works (Audio CD)

When Georges Cziffra escaped to Vienna during the Hungarian uprising of 1956, his debut recital at the Brahmsaal caused such a sensation that news of the event reached The New Yorker. At his Paris debut the following month Cziffra received ovations never witnessed within living memory while his London debut at the Royal Festival Hall in 1957 caused a furore. Cziffra played Liszt's first concerto and Hungarian Fantasy followed by 10 encores that brought the house down and had critics searching for their most colourful superlatives. When I heard Cziffra play these works with the Halle Orchestra under George Weldon in February 1959 the Manchester audience were spellbound and demanded encore after dazzling encore.
On these EMI reissues of Cziffra's Liszt playing from 1956 to 1986 we can hear the reason for such adulation. Cziffra's recordings of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies from his heyday in the late 1950s are stunning. But they are much more than that. We can take for granted the scintillating virtuosity, bravado and gypsy swagger of the second Rhapsody; No.8 'Capriccio', No.9 'Carnaval de Pesth', and No.15 'Marche de Rakoczy'; but Cziffra also captures the yearning sadness and passion of the grief laden climax of No.5 (a funeral march) while bringing delicate nuancies, light and shade to Liszt's lyrical pages. In the Transcendental Studies too, his playing of No.2 in A minor, 'Mazeppa', 'Wilde Jagd', and 'Feux follets', are electrifying, yet Cziffra brings a simple beauty to 'Paysage'; grandeaur to 'Vision'; soaring lyricism to the 'Appasionata' study and in 'Ricordanza', arpeggios and cadenzas that shimmer like star dust. Discs four and five include Cziffra's legendary early recordings of the Mephisto Waltz, trailing demonic whisps of sulphur, La Campanella, Gnomenreigen, and Liszt's favourite show stopping encore, the Grand Galop Chromatique. Rarities form the 1970s/80s include the Polonaise No.1, Ballade No.2; a powerful depiction of surging seas in 'St.Francis Walking on the Waters' and finally a masterly performance of the B minor Sonata (1968) in which Cziffra combines authentic Lisztian bravura and wistful lyricism with the final pages visionary qualities.
Liner notes are in French but no matter - 5 discs of superb Liszt playing for the price of one full price disc is a bargain not to be missed. Snap it up while you can!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cziffra Dazzles, July 20, 2005

By 

Mr. Scott L. Leather (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liszt: Oeuvres pour Piano / Piano Works (Audio CD)

This set is of mostly mono recordings from the 1950s which present Cziffra at his best. Included are the Hungarian Rhapsodies which in this first of his two complete sets is preferable to the later version by many people. The playing is spectacular even if it mostly is in mono. (The B Minor sonata is in stereo).

Cziffra has a way of making music so it seems like you've never heard the piece before. He has that magic elixir of charisma, sense of timing and excitement that made him the stellar artist he was.

The sound, even though mono, is excellent and the mastering as well. I've found, personally, by simulating stereo on my Creative Soundblaster Audigy card and 5.1 creative inspire speaker system, it sounds almost like a new recording.

Don't miss this set. Besides being a comprehensive review of Cziffra's Liszt repetoire it is also a bargain.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bow down to king Georges!!, April 8, 2004

By 

J. Heald (Birmingham, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liszt: Oeuvres pour Piano / Piano Works (Audio CD)

This is one of those discs that falls into the "must-buy" category for all piano afficionados. It stands as a great testament to a pianist who absolutely deserves to be mentioned in the same breath (and then some!) as Horowitz, Michelangeli and Richter.
In terms of virtuosity the playing is spell-binding throughout(as you would expect from Cziffra), but it is never overblown, with poetic phrasing and romanitc expression always to the fore. If you only listen to one piece in the whole set (and I guarantee that will not be the case!), let it be the B minor sonata- an awesomely powerful, heart-on-the-sleeve rendition of arguably the greatest solo piece in the piano literature.