Claudio Arrau: Liszt, Piano Works (6 CD Box Set)

Of all the composers Claudio Arrau recorded extensively, Liszt was perhaps the most central, the most essential and the most personal. Trained as a youth in prewar Berlin by a Liszt pupil, Arrau's commanding virtuosity and compelling authority is clearly a continuation of the grand Romantic manner in general and of Liszt in particular and on these six discs are dozens of performances that speak with the power of tradition infused with strength of true belief. From the glittering cascades of Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este to the harrowing sonorities of Gnomenreigen and from the radiant arpeggios of Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude to the hushed intimacy of Liebestraum, Arrau knows Liszt's music with the fervor of a prophet and the passion of a lover. While it's true Arrau was in his seventies and eighties when he made these recordings and that time had mellowed his virtuosity, it's also true that time had matured his interpretations. Some listeners may prefer their Liszt players more vigorous, but few could ask for a more sensuous Liszt player. Including two performances of Liszt's Sonata in B minor, one an almost youthfully ardent recording from 1970 and the other a slower but more penetrating recording from 1985, provides a wonderful way to compare Arrau's approach to the composer's masterpiece. Philips' stereo sound is so realistic one can sometimes hear the pianist shift on the bench.

Tracklist:
Disc: 1
1. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 1. Lento assai - Allegro energico
2. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 2. Grandioso - Recitativo
3. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 3. Andante sostenuto
4. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 4. Allegro energico
5. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (LW H4): 1. Allegro maestoso
6. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (LW H4): 2. Quasi adagio
7. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (LW H4): 3. Allegretto vivace - Allegro animato
8. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (LW H4): 4. Allegro marziale animato
9. Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125 (LW H6): 1. Adagio sostenuto assai - Allegro agitato assai
10. Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125 (LW H6): 2. Allegro moderato
11. Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125 (LW H6): 3. Allegro deciso - Marziale un poco meno allegro
12. Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125 (LW H6): 4. Allegro animato
5-12 : with LSO, Sir Colin Davis, conductor
Disc: 2
1. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 1. Prélude (Presto)
2. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 2. Molto vivace
3. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 3. Paysage (Poco adagio)
4. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 4. Mazeppa (Allegro)
5. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 5. Feux follets (Allegretto)
6. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 6. Vision (Lento)
7. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 7. Eroica (Allegro)
8. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 8. Wilde Jagd (Presto furioso)
9. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 9. Ricordanza (Andantino)
10. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 10. Allegro agitato molto
11. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 11. Harmonies du soir (Andantino)
12. Études d'exécution transcendante (12 Transcendental Etudes), for piano, S. 139 (LW A172): 12. Chasse-neige (Andante con moto)
Disc: 3
1. Work(s): Valse oubliée en fa dièse majeur / in F sharp
2. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): Souhait d'une jeune fille (The Maiden's Wish)
3. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): Printemps (Spring)
4. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): Le petit anneau (The Ring)
5. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): Bacchanale (Drinking Song)
6. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): Ma mignonne (My Darling)
7. Chants Polonais (6), transcription for piano (after Chopin Op. 74), S. 480 (LW A193): Le fiancé (The Bridegroom)
8. Funérailles, for piano (Harmonies poétiques No. 7), S.173/7 (LW A158/7)
9. Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, for piano (Harmonies poétiques No. 3), S. 173/3 (LW A158/3): Moderato
10. Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, for piano (Harmonies poétiques No. 3), S. 173/3 (LW A158/3): Andante
11. Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, for piano (Harmonies poétiques No. 3), S. 173/3 (LW A158/3): Più sostenuto quasi preludio - Tem
12. Ballade, for piano No. 2 (II) in B minor, S. 171 (LW A181)
Disc: 4
1. Liebesträume, notturno for piano No. 3 in A flat major ('O Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst'), S. 541/3 (LW A103/3)
2. Rigoletto: paraphrase de concert (after Verdi), for piano, S. 434 (LW A187)
3. Ernani: paraphrase de concert (I & II), for piano (after Verdi), S. 432 (LW A203)
4. Miserere du Trovatore, transcription for piano (after Verdi) , S. 433 (LW A199)
5. Salve Maria de Jérusalem (I & II), transcription for piano (after Verdi, I Lombardi), S. 431 (LW A149)
6. Aida: Danza sacra e duetto finale, transcription for piano (after Verdi), S. 436 (LW A276)
7. Don Carlos: Coro di festa e Marcia funebre, transcription for piano (after Verdi), S. 435 (LW A240)
8. Réminiscences de Boccanegra, transcription for piano (after Verdi), S. 438 (LW A314)
9. Mephisto Waltz (I & II), for piano No. 1 (Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke), S. 514 (LW A189)
Disc: 5
1. Waldesrauschen (Forest Murmurs), for piano (Zwei Konzertetuden No. 1), S. 145/1 (LW A218/1)
2. Work(s): Gnomenreigen (Ronde des lutins)
3. Études de concert (3), for piano, S. 144 (LW A118): 1. Il lamento (A capriccio - Allegro cantabile)
4. Études de concert (3), for piano, S. 144 (LW A118): 2. La leggierezza (A capriccio - Quasi allegretto)
5. Études de concert (3), for piano, S. 144 (LW A118): 3. Un sospiro (Allegro affettuoso)
6. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 1. Lento assai - Allegro energico
7. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 2. Andante sostenuto
8. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 3. Allegro energico
9. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179): 4. Andante sostenuto - Lento assai
Disc: 6
1. Années de pèlerinage, 2nd Year ('Italie'), suite for piano, S. 161 (LW A55): Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este
2. Années de pèlerinage, 1st Year ('Suisse'), suite for piano, S. 160 (LW A159): Vallée d'Obermann
3. Années de pèlerinage, 2nd Year ('Italie'), suite for piano, S. 161 (LW A55): Après une lecture du Dante
4. Années de pèlerinage, 2nd Year ('Italie'), suite for piano, S. 161 (LW A55): Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
5. Années de pèlerinage, 2nd Year ('Italie'), suite for piano, S. 161 (LW A55): Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
6. Années de pèlerinage, 1st Year ('Suisse'), suite for piano, S. 160 (LW A159): La Chapelle de Guillaume Tell

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