Chopin/Liszt Piano Concertos
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Fryderyk Chopin, Franz Liszt
Label: DG
Magazine Review Date: 4/1985
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
ADD
Catalogue Number: 415 061-2GH

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 |
Franz Liszt, Composer
Claudio Abbado, Conductor Franz Liszt, Composer London Symphony Orchestra Martha Argerich, Piano |
Author:
This is early vintage Argerich but the sound has transferred well to CD. She is balanced rather noticeably forward in comparison with either Emanuel Ax (see above) in the Chopin or Francois-Rene Duchable (Erato/Conifer) in the Liszt concerto. Much of the outer Chopin movements is taken remarkably fast, yet a crystalline clarity is maintained. claudio Abbado does well with the orchestral passages, lingering more than Eugene Ormandy. The latter, with the Philadelphia Orchestra complements Ax exceptionally well, and the pianist is as lucid in thought as in sound. Good sense is made of all the semiquaver figuration in the first movement's development section and an affecting lyrical feeling shapes the various statements of the second subject and is again evident in the Romance. Frankly I prefer his reading to Argerich's.
As to Liszt, the Richter interpretations on Philips are among the classics of the gramophone, and comparison with Duchable is probably more apt. The latter is a real fire-eating performance of extreme virtuosity, with fine orchestral support. This is important as Liszt makes a far more extensive use of the orchestra than Chopin, and in Duchable's version, as in Argerich's, the many orchestral solos are well phrased and clearly focused in the recording. The latter's is again a high-speed yet immaculate account of Liszt's piece, with plenty of feeling in the reflective passages. Richter remains first choice, however.'
As to Liszt, the Richter interpretations on Philips are among the classics of the gramophone, and comparison with Duchable is probably more apt. The latter is a real fire-eating performance of extreme virtuosity, with fine orchestral support. This is important as Liszt makes a far more extensive use of the orchestra than Chopin, and in Duchable's version, as in Argerich's, the many orchestral solos are well phrased and clearly focused in the recording. The latter's is again a high-speed yet immaculate account of Liszt's piece, with plenty of feeling in the reflective passages. Richter remains first choice, however.'
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.