Customer Reviews

Murray Perahia Plays Franck & Liszt

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am in complete agreement with the other review posted here, but that fellow failed to mention the absolute brilliance of two pieces on this disc: the Wadesrauschen (Voices of the Woods) and the Gnomenreigen (dance of the gnomes) by Liszt.

Until I heard this disc, I thought that Bolet was head and shoulders above the crowd in his playing of Liszt repertoire. After hearing Perahia play the two abovementioned etudes and the Spanish Rhapsody, I would say that Bolet may have met his match, at least for those particular pieces. Perahia's combination of razor sharp technique as well as lyrical interpretations are mind boggling. I could not imagine a better performance of any of these three pieces.

Due to the immense technical difficulties presented in these Liszt pieces, the pianist must have complete mastery of these difficulties in order to bring out the musical aspect. The apparent facility with which Perahia does this prompts the question: did Perahia also make a deal with Mephistophles?

I bought this CD because i needed to confirm my judgement that this outstanding pianist could bring some fresh air by playing Listz with such a great talent? In a previous review of the Aldeburgh Recital by Perahia (Sony SK 46437) i was totally impressed by his interpretation of the hungarian rapsody number 12, asking why he did not record yet the Complete Hungarian Suite. The judgement is confirmed when listening the Rapsody Espagnole which has less degree of complexity compared to the more famous & traditionnal Hungarian Masterpieces... Nevermind, the rythm, thematic melody and emotion are still present and Perahia made a fantastic play, keeping the music integrity without unnecessary artifacts. And some congratulation for Sony having recorded this piece with a perfect high definition sound! Particular attention from the third minute when the major theme is coming again and will return in a brilliant final. Perahia is outstanding there and will stay as such with an incredible facility going crecendo. Then will start the right hand "trille" in a pseudo waltz sequence.....then at the tenth minute come some deep sound waves before reaching the major theme again in a amazing final. In Annees de Pelerinage the perfection & interpretation by Brendel seems to be superior but difference is so small! Mephisto Walz (from Faust Them) is another achievement in the record. Franck & Listz are close in their education, they got same music teacher and both were influenced by religion culte and J.S Bach! This prelude choral by Franck has definitely some analogy with Listz and Perahia gives a full dimension of the musical creativity of both talented composers. But if the CD needs a special award, it is with the Listz's Spanish Rapsody! Bravo Mr Perahia, We may recommend this record as a must buy because it really deserves it.....

Older listeners will remember a time when Liszt was dismissed as a concocter of hollow claptrap, fodder for Horowitz and other technical wizards rather than for serious pianists on the order of Schnabel and Serkin. Clarly the pendulum has swung back. Yet even the most Olympian taste can't disguise a fondness for Liszt at his most gaudy. Murray Perahia, like his fellow classicist Alfred Brendel, rescues his favorite items from Liszt's vast catalog by imbuing them with dignity and elegance. Some may love this approach; I think it's almost pointless.

Liszt reduced to the status of a well-behaved gentleman, as he is here, loses the brazen brilliance and glitter that his music requires -- even his most subdued pieces assume a pianist of power and passion. In Perahia's hands, the Mephisto Waltz portrays a mischievous imp, however, not the Prince of Darkness. The Rhapsodie espagnole emerges as empty Spanish frippery without the kind of breathtaking bravura that one hears from Horowitz and Richtr when they dive headlong into Liszt. And there's a strange absence of soulfulness in Perahia's bland Petrarch Sonnet no. 104. The two concert etudes are tossed off with facility, but I didn't feel any tingle in the blood. Other reviewers here are more impressed, and they have a right to be, but I don't like Liszt when his fires re banked.

The sizable (17 min.) filler is Franck's incredibly dull Prelude, Chorale, and Fugue. I suppose a link is being suggested with Liszt; the two composers had the same teacher, explored some of the same pianistic techniques, and wrote homages to Bach. But this, one of Franck's later works, is an exercise in devotion to the Baroqque that flows harmlessly from one bland exercise to th next. Perahia is rather frighteningly in tune with the music; I guess we'll never hear it done with more polish and respect. But I doubt I'll return to this CD any time soon.

Murray Perahia at his finest, making Liszt sound amazingly colourful and not just a crass display of technical pyrotechnics. Substance and style! Enjoy.

I have never heard such a brilliant recording of Liszt's Gnomenreigen. My heart was racing with excitement through the whole experience of listening to it. His masterful technique allows him to really open up the musicality of this performance. Unbelievable. Truly amazing...