Composer: Franz Liszt
Performer: Risto-Matti Marin
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Toccata
Catalogue: TOCC0432
Release: 2017
Size: 543 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Hunnenschlacht, S645 / R367 (arr. A. Stradal)
02. Festklange, S641 / R363 (arr. A. Stradal)
03. Prometheus, S639 / R361 (arr. A. Stradal)
04. Mazeppa, S640 / R362 (arr. A. Stradal)
Liszt never transcribed his thirteen symphonic poems for solo piano – that task wasundertaken by his Czech student August Stradal (1860–1930).
Stradal’s versions demand almost superhuman virtuosity, which the Finnish pianistRisto-Matti Marin supplies in spades.
As the late Malcolm MacDonald writes in his booklet essay, Stradal’s versions ‘transform these revolutionary orchestral compositions into viable and effective piano works, faithfully preserving their masterly musical substance’.
A Fanfare review of Vol. 1 in this series had high praise for Risto-Matti Marin’s pianism:‘One marvels at the stamina that can keep such a plethora of detail in place with suchrelentless élan; at his narrative shaping, which can turn up an already withering heat, soto speak, at climactic moments; at his overarching persuasiveness’.