Composer: Franz Liszt, Sigismond Thalberg
Performer: Marc-André Hamelin
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Hyperion
Size: 2.5 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Franz Liszt
Hexaméron, S392
01. Introduction Extremement lent
02. Tema Allegro marziale
03. Variation I Ben marcato
04. Variation II Moderato
05. Variation III di bravura – Ritornello
06. Variation IV Legato e grazioso
07. Variation V Vivo e brillante – Fuocoso molto energico Lento quasi recitativo
08. Variation VI Largo – [coda]
09. Finale Molto vivace quasi prestissimo
Sigismond Thalberg
10. Grande fantaisie sur des motifs de Don Pasquale, Op 67
Franz Liszt
11. Ernani ‘[Deuxième] Paraphrase de Concert’, S432
Sigismond Thalberg
12. Fantaisie sur des thèmes de Moïse, Op 33
Franz Liszt
13. Réminiscences de Norma de Bellini – Grande fantaisie, S394
If, as Liszt himself dubbed it, ‘Hexaméron’ is ‘a monster’, it’s a monster which certainly holds no terrors for Marc-André Hamelin, and the encounter between them makes for some thrilling pianism. The remainder of the recital—high-octane transformations of nineteenth-century operatic favourites—is every bit as electrifying, from a musician who never ceases to astonish whatever the repertoire.
[Hexaméron] makes for an arresting opening on this album, with Hamelin revelling in the diversity of each composer-pianist’s technical strengths…His wry acknowledgement of Liszt’s desire to have the last word genuinely made me chuckle: the gloves truly come off for the home straight as he races towards the finishing-line with a crazily accelerating flurry of double-octaves, then smashes through it in a thunderous closing chord which hangs in the air for a good five seconds. It’s jaw-dropping pianism.