Liszt

The second year of the Année de pèlerinagededicated to Italy, is judged overall to be the most important of the three. The whole series of the second year was published in 1858 and was preceded by two compilations which date from 1837 and 1849 respectively. On this recording the three Petrarca Sonnets are presented. The appearance of these Sonnets in Liszt's works dated back to around 1838 as lieder for voice and piano, which were later excellently transcribed for piano solo.

Many music lovers and keyboard enthusiasts still believe that Liszt was a light-weight composer, given to bouts of bombast and virtuoso writing for its own sake. There is more than a grain of truth to that, but there's more to Liszt than many of his detractors realize, even in these Rhapsodies which are largely viewed as uneven creations, that at their best feature colorful music of relatively little depth. Yes, there is a good measure of confection in them – mostly good confection though – but there's also much solid Liszt in these scores. Nos. 2 and 6, for all their flash and bravura, are well crafted, brilliant pieces. #3 is not popular but also quite a fine work, as are Nos. 5, 9, 14, 15 and, despite its structural flaws, 12. I personally have great fondness for the late Rhapsodies, Nos. 16 – 19, which are all somewhat darker in mood and less virtuosic on the whole.

Giuseppe began studying piano at the age of five and graduated in 1996 at Conservatory "G. Rossini " in Pesaro under the guidance of Annamaria Cristina Raffa. He then attended the Imola International Piano Academy under the supervision of Franco Scala and Piero Rattalino, achieving the master title (the highest certificate released by this institution) in 2003.

After Dreams, and the Bach Cello Suites, two recordings that enjoyed both critical and public acclaim, Ophélie Gaillard turns here to Robert Schumann's Cello Concerto and the complete music for cello and piano of Franz Liszt. The result of this juxtaposition of two worlds, those of two composers of great sensitivity, is a programme captivatingly combining passion with an expression of the mysteries of life.

The complete music for solo piano of Liszt. All Liszt's versions of his piano music were included, including more than 300 world premieres, and many other pieces unheard since Liszt's lifetime, and also all arrangements of other composers’ work. Four discs were given to Liszt's seventeen works for piano and orchestra, about half of which were première recordings made from unpublished manuscripts. The series ran to 94 full-length CDs, and has earned Howard a place in the Guinness Book Of Records.

The complete music for solo piano of Liszt. All Liszt's versions of his piano music were included, including more than 300 world premieres, and many other pieces unheard since Liszt's lifetime, and also all arrangements of other composers’ work. Four discs were given to Liszt's seventeen works for piano and orchestra, about half of which were première recordings made from unpublished manuscripts. The series ran to 94 full-length CDs, and has earned Howard a place in the Guinness Book Of Records.

The complete music for solo piano of Liszt. All Liszt's versions of his piano music were included, including more than 300 world premieres, and many other pieces unheard since Liszt's lifetime, and also all arrangements of other composers’ work. Four discs were given to Liszt's seventeen works for piano and orchestra, about half of which were première recordings made from unpublished manuscripts. The series ran to 94 full-length CDs, and has earned Howard a place in the Guinness Book Of Records.

The complete music for solo piano of Liszt. All Liszt's versions of his piano music were included, including more than 300 world premieres, and many other pieces unheard since Liszt's lifetime, and also all arrangements of other composers’ work. Four discs were given to Liszt's seventeen works for piano and orchestra, about half of which were première recordings made from unpublished manuscripts. The series ran to 94 full-length CDs, and has earned Howard a place in the Guinness Book Of Records.

The complete music for solo piano of Liszt. All Liszt's versions of his piano music were included, including more than 300 world premieres, and many other pieces unheard since Liszt's lifetime, and also all arrangements of other composers’ work. Four discs were given to Liszt's seventeen works for piano and orchestra, about half of which were première recordings made from unpublished manuscripts. The series ran to 94 full-length CDs, and has earned Howard a place in the Guinness Book Of Records.