Recordings That You Are Considering

[betterthanfine]

Is there a complete recording of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies that is recommendable? I've tried snippets of the Cziffra recording, but it's not completely to my tastes. Does anyone know the ones by Misha Dichter and Leslie Howard? How do they compare?



[ASIN]B00002EIUE[/ASIN]

Also, what's a decent performance of the orchestral versions of these pieces?

[Brian]

Is there a complete recording of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies that is recommendable? I've tried snippets of the Cziffra recording, but it's not completely to my tastes. Does anyone know the ones by Misha Dichter and Leslie Howard? How do they compare?

I really enjoy the Misha Dichter version. My parents had Roberto Szidon when I was growing up, but it left a sour taste in my mouth: rather harsh and metallic. My favorite is actually Jeno Jando on Naxos, which is the opposite of harsh and metallic - the piano sounds kind of rickety, Jando's tone is home-spun, and he indulges himself in a couple improvisational flights of fancy. It's the best thing I've ever heard him do.

I did a review of Misha Dichter for MusicWeb which you might find handy:

"The typical approach to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, Misha Dichter writes in his perceptive, brand-new liner essay to this reissue, is to treat them as a sort of canvas for the artist to paint with his/her own colors, ideas, and "folk-style" improvisations. Figures like Roberto Szidon have given themselves a great deal of leeway in stretching Liszt's dynamics, or inventing their own, and inserting improvised passages; when it comes to the occasional improvisational riff, even the staid Jeno Jando couldn't resist joining the fun. Dichter, in contrast, asks: why treat the careful markings in these scores any different than, say, the markings in a Beethoven sonata? Why rule some composers' intentions inviolable, or sacred, but treat Liszt like an opportunity to play around?

"Dichter's playing is not dry. No, in order to achieve dryness in this music you would have to deviate enormously from Liszt's instructions! The scores themselves are full of exactly the coloristic effects which the composer thought would achieve Hungarian character and a native musical language, and Misha Dichter interprets with a touch that's sensitive to all of this.

"Only Nos. 6 and 15 (the Rakoczy March) are a bit of a let-down, somewhat plain and lacking in panache, and the Carnival in Pest is no place for sobriety, but the last four rhapsodies, from Liszt's final years, are simply superb, especially No. 17's compact but powerful emotional arc. It is not hard to tell that these are Dichter's favorites....Dichter's Rhapsodies are poised, dramatic, precise without being artificial, and boisterously colorful without being tacky. In other words, he takes his merriment seriously."

[kishnevi]

I really enjoy the Misha Dichter version. My parents had Roberto Szidon when I was growing up, but it left a sour taste in my mouth: rather harsh and metallic. My favorite is actually Jeno Jando on Naxos, which is the opposite of harsh and metallic - the piano sounds kind of rickety, Jando's tone is home-spun, and he indulges himself in a couple improvisational flights of fancy. It's the best thing I've ever heard him do.

+1 for Jando.

I bought the two Jando CDs early on in my acquaintance with Liszt;  the first hearing or so,  I was unimpressed, but it's a performance that began to grow on me,  and now it would be my first suggestion.

[Karl Henning]

+1 for Jando.

I bought the two Jando CDs early on in my acquaintance with Liszt;  the first hearing or so,  I was unimpressed, but it's a performance that began to grow on me,  and now it would be my first suggestion.

+ 2

[Sammy]

+1 for Jando.

I bought the two Jando CDs early on in my acquaintance with Liszt;  the first hearing or so,  I was unimpressed, but it's a performance that began to grow on me,  and now it would be my first suggestion.

+3.  Jando at his best.

[SonicMan46]

Thanks all for the comments on the Hungarian Rhapsodies - I currently own the 2-CD set w/ Lesilie Howard which is excellent (MusicWeb Review HERE) - for those who shop at BRO, currently available for $14.  After obtaining the Howard performances, I culled out my set w/ Szidon.  NOW - do I want to add Jando - hmmm?  Dave

[mc ukrneal]

Thanks all for the comments on the Hungarian Rhapsodies - I currently own the 2-CD set w/ Lesilie Howard which is excellent (MusicWeb Review HERE) - for those who shop at BRO, currently available for $14.  After obtaining the Howard performances, I culled out my set w/ Szidon.  NOW - do I want to add Jando - hmmm?  Dave

Szidon was a dud for me too. I like Jando, so that sounds interesting. But I may add Howard anyway. After all, I am always looking for additional items at BRO.

[Octave]

@DavidA, thanks for the feedback on that EMI Liszt box.
Also thanks to others for the mention of the Jeno Jando Liszt; sounds good!

[DavidA]

Is there a complete recording of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies that is recommendable? I've tried snippets of the Cziffra recording, but it's not completely to my tastes. Does anyone know the ones by Misha Dichter and Leslie Howard? How do they compare?



[ASIN]B00002EIUE[/ASIN]

Also, what's a decent performance of the orchestral versions of these pieces?

To me there is one stand-out recording on the piano by Cziffra. Simply amazing playing in authentic Hungarian gypsy style. The earlier set are best. Best way to get them is in the cheap box from French EMI Oeuvres de Liszt which has three more discs of Cziffra's amazing playing. Available from Amazon in the UK at least.

[Octave]

To me there is one stand-out recording on the piano by Cziffra. Simply amazing playing in authentic Hungarian gypsy style. The earlier set are best. Best way to get them is in the cheap box from French EMI Oeuvres de Liszt which has three more discs of Cziffra's amazing playing. Available from Amazon in the UK at least.

DavidA, I just wanted to make sure it was this you were recommending:

[betterthanfine]

Thank you Brian, your review certainly made me more curious about these recordings! What you write about how pianists often ignore Liszt's dynamic markings is exactly what bothered me in other interpretations I've heard. I think the Dichter set will be a good starting point for these works, and since it's a Newton release, it probably won't be too expensive!

[Brian]

What you write about how pianists often ignore Liszt's dynamic markings is exactly what bothered me in other interpretations I've heard.

In that case invest with confidence. Dichter proves you don't need to mess around with the music to make it fun, and as my post indicated, his booklet essay's great too.

[Coopmv]

To me there is one stand-out recording on the piano by Cziffra. Simply amazing playing in authentic Hungarian gypsy style. The earlier set are best. Best way to get them is in the cheap box from French EMI Oeuvres de Liszt which has three more discs of Cziffra's amazing playing. Available from Amazon in the UK at least.

I have the following Philips twofer, which should include all the tracks found on the re-issued Newton Classics recording ...

[SonicMan46]

Szidon was a dud for me too. I like Jando, so that sounds interesting. But I may add Howard anyway. After all, I am always looking for additional items at BRO.

Hi Neal - believe that I picked up most of my Howard Liszt CDs from BRO (of course, skipped a lot - the Hyperion BOX contains 99 discs!  )!  BTW - put in an order for the 2 Jando CDs (used copies for about $10 total - described as 'very good' condition, so should play fine) - Dave

[Florestan]

Happy New Year everyone!

On December 30 last year I tuned the radio to a classical music station and stumbled upon an already begun opera. After a few minutes it was clear it was some Rossini stuff, but far superior to Il Barbiere di Siviglia: one great aria, duet or ensemble after another until the very end. I was literally spellbound by the music. It turned out to be Il Viaggio a Reims. So I need it, I want it and I will have it. But...

...Which of these two is better?


(This is what I've heard on the radio but the sound was not quite very good --- I don't know if it's the station fault or the recording's)



TIA

[SonicMan46]

Just added the 5th disc of Debussy's Piano Music w/ J-E Bavouzet - well, today Fanfare (Jan-Feb 2013) arrives and there is an excellent review of a BIS box (6 CDs) w/ Noriko Ogawa - now on sale @ MDT for $28 - I'm not really familiar w/ her performances of this music and would appreciate any comments - thanks!

[kishnevi]

Just added the 5th disc of Debussy's Piano Music w/ J-E Bavouzet - well, today Fanfare (Jan-Feb 2013) arrives and there is an excellent review of a BIS box (6 CDs) w/ Noriko Ogawa - now on sale @ MDT for $28 - I'm not really familiar w/ her performances of this music and would appreciate any comments - thanks!

I remember it as solid.  I haven't listened to any of the Bavouzet yet, so I can't compare.  But from what I remember (I don't feel like hunting out the Ogawa box), it contains not only the solo works but also the works for piano 4 hands and for piano and orchestra--I suppose that's why it has one more CD--but not, IIRC, the piano version of Khamma.

[nico1616]

Happy New Year everyone!

On December 30 last year I tuned the radio to a classical music station and stumbled upon an already begun opera. After a few minutes it was clear it was some Rossini stuff, but far superior to Il Barbiere di Siviglia: one great aria, duet or ensemble after another until the very end. I was literally spellbound by the music. It turned out to be Il Viaggio a Reims. So I need it, I want it and I will have it. But...

...Which of these two is better?


(This is what I've heard on the radio but the sound was not quite very good --- I don't know if it's the station fault or the recording's)



TIA

I own both and prefer the first one. It has great sound and a superb cast, one of the greatest Rossini recordings ever made.
The Sony had a cast that overlaps with the DG, but they were almost all better when they were younger.
Studer is a bit of a weak link on the Sony, allthough it has an extra piece of music that was discovered then.
Go for the DG!

[betterthanfine]

To me there is one stand-out recording on the piano by Cziffra. Simply amazing playing in authentic Hungarian gypsy style. The earlier set are best. Best way to get them is in the cheap box from French EMI Oeuvres de Liszt which has three more discs of Cziffra's amazing playing. Available from Amazon in the UK at least.

Like I said, Cziffra's style didn't immediately appeal to me on first listen, but maybe I should listen some more. Thanks for all the replies, people, very helpful! I think I'll give Jando a spin too, after all the positive comments his set gets on here!

[mc ukrneal]

I own both and prefer the first one. It has great sound and a superb cast, one of the greatest Rossini recordings ever made.
The Sony had a cast that overlaps with the DG, but they were almost all better when they were younger.
Studer is a bit of a weak link on the Sony, allthough it has an extra piece of music that was discovered then.
Go for the DG!

Hmmm. I like the DG, but I think the Sony is the one to go for (sorry FLorestan - not gonna make this easy for you). I prefer Berlin for sure - they play with pizzaz and fizz. You have already noted the difference in sound, so I'll skip over that. I also disagree about the cast. I don't think there is a weak link at all. But then both casts are excellent and neither is dud in any way. Or put another way, there are advantages on both sets (I've never been a huge fan of Nucci, Ricciarelli or Azaiza in general). So in the end, whichever you get, I think you will be pleased.