Mephisto Waltz and Other Works for Solo Piano
A prolific composer and virtuoso pianist, Franz Liszt (1811–1886) was the most lionized musical personality of his time. His compositions for solo piano continue to be loved and admired by pianists and their audiences for their lush Romanticism and technical fireworks. They remain among the most frequently performed works in the repertoire. This choice selection of Liszt piano works reveals the powers at this extraordinary composer’s command: Mephisto Waltz No.1; Nuages Gris; Liebesträume Nos. 1, 2 & 3; Grand Galop Chromatique; Polonaises Nos. 1 & 2; Valse-Impromptu in A-flat Major; Fantasia and Fugue on the Theme BACH; La Lugubre Gondola I & II; Valse Oubliée No. 1; Czárdás Macabre; Gretchen (from A Faust Symphony); Unstern: Sinsitre, Disastro; and Rhapsodie Espagnole.
Contenido:
Mephisto Waltz No. 1′[Composed for orchestra as ‘The Dance in the Village Inn’ (‘Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke’), the second of Two Episodes from Lenau`s ‘Faust’. Dedicated to Carl Tausig, the most famous of the first generation of Liszt pupils.]
Liebesträume, 3 Notturnos (Dreams of Love, 3 Nocturnes)
No. 1 in A-flat Major
No. 2 in E Major
No. 3 in A-flat Major[Piano transcriptions o three Liszt songs, published as a set: No. 1? Hohe Liebe (Lofty Love). No. 2 ? Seliger Tod (Blissful Death), also known by its first line of text: ‘Gestorben war ich’ (‘I had died’). No. 3 ? O Lieb (O, Love). Full texts with English translations]
Two Polonaises
No. 1 in C Minor
No. 2 in E Major
Fantasia and Fugue on the Theme BACH'[Originally written for organ as Prelude and Fugue on the name BACH. Revised, ca. 1870, and transcribed for piano under the alternate title Fantasia and Fugue on the Theme BACH.]’
Valse Oubliée No. 1 (Forgotten Waltz No. 1)[The first of Trois Valses Oubliées. A fourth waltz was discovered in the United States and published there.]’Unstern: Sinistre, Disastro (Unlucky Star: Disaster)”[Exclamations of adversity of disaster, repeated in the title in German, French and Italian. Also published as Unstern!.]’Nuages Gris (Somber Clouds)Grand Galop Chromatique (Grand Chromatic Galop)
Valse-Impromptu in A-flat major (Waltz-Impromptu)
La Lugubre Gondola I & II (The Mournful Gondola I & II)
1st version
2nd version'[Impressions of funeral processions by gondola, Venice.]
Czárdás Macabre[a longer version was published in 1954]
Gretchen (from A Faust Symphony)[The second of ‘Three Character Pictures after Goethe’ that make up Liszt`s A Faust Symphony. (The first is ‘Faust.’ the thrid, ‘Mephistopheles.’) Orchestral score, dedicated to Hector Berlioz, composed in 1854. expanded, 1857. Piano transcription of ‘Gretchen,’.]
Rhapsodie Espagnole (Spanish Rhapsody)'[Subtitle: ‘Folies d`Espagne et Jota Aragonesa.’ Opening based on ‘La Folia,’ a traditional 17th-century air used for continuous variation. The jota is a rapid, triple-time folk dance of northern Spain.]’