Liszt: Alice Sara Ott

Alice Sara Ott's 2008 recording of Franz Liszt's 12 Transcendental Etudes may be the right prescription for jaded listeners who are sure they've heard all they need of this composer. To the extent that any pianist can make Liszt's music sound fresh, innovative, and interesting again, after years of mistreatment at the hands of sentimentalists and show-offs, Ott succeeds brilliantly on all three points.

What makes these performances stand out is Ott's thoughtful approach to both concertos, eschewing empty display and bringing weight, detail and a range of colours to the solo parts.

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Franz Liszt's birth, Deutsche Grammophon has assembled a limited-edition, 34-CD collection, housed in a sturdy cubic package that many collectors will covet for its impressive appearance. But this comprehensive set is really aimed at serious Liszt aficionados who appreciate the diverse ways of playing this arch-Romantic's passionate music.

Liszt brought new meaning to the term “virtuoso.” His works for piano are some of the most difficult ever written. This album presents not only the dazzling technical side of Liszt but also his beautiful piano melodies including Liebestraum, La Campanella and Un Sospiro, played by some of the greatest pianists including Daniil Trifonov, Martha Argerich, Vladimir Horowitz and Daniel Barenboim.