Liszt: Transcriptions from Operas

Cousin, Martin

8.574545

Nearly half of Franz Liszt’s early output consisted of transcriptions and arrangements, filling out his virtuoso concert programmes with some of the grandest and most popular operas of the day. He cleverly weaves themes through a dramatic Grande Fantaisie on Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, while the Fantasia on Mercadante’s Il giuramento is a superb example of Liszt’s flamboyant and virtuosic earlier style. All of these works require delicate brilliance and precision alongside a superb technique to meet their fearsome challenges – the Rondeau fantastique on Manuel García’s ‘El contrabandista’ is one of the most technically demanding pieces Liszt ever composed.

Works:

•Liszt: Grande fantaisie sur des thèmes de l'opéra Les Huguenots de Meyerbeer, S. 412 "Réminiscences des Huguenots" (1st Version)
• Liszt: Fantasia on Italian Operatic Melodies and Mercadante's Il Giuramento, S. 458 "Réminiscences de La Scala"
• Liszt: Rondeau fantastique sur un thème espagnol, S. 252 "El contrabandista de M. García"
• Liszt: Aus Lohengrin, S. 446 (1st Version): No. 1, Festspiel und Brautlied
• Liszt: La Mandragore, S. 698 "Ballade de l'opéra Jean de Nivelle de L. Delibes" (Fragment)

CD x 1

Naxos

3/5/24

747313454570