Ozawa: Liszt – Piano Concertos no.1 & 2, Totentanz (FLAC)

Performer: Krystian Zimerman
Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Seiji Ozawa
Composer: Franz Liszt
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 214 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (LW H4)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
with Krystian Zimerman
Conducted by Seiji Ozawa

# Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125 (LW H6)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
with Krystian Zimerman
Conducted by Seiji Ozawa

# Totentanz (I & II), for piano & orchestra, S. 126 (LW H8)
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Boston Symphony Orchestra
with Krystian Zimerman
Conducted by Seiji Ozawa

Cristal-clarity, dazzling virtuosity, touching musicianship – Krystian Zimerman’s Liszt

I don’t know if Liszt’s piano concertos (plus the famous Totentanz) are more than a wonderful framework for displaying the soloist’s virtuosity. However, none of the greatest pianists avoided to include in their repertoire those sparkling warhorses to delight audiences worldwide. You cannot aspire to be called a “great pianist” if you never faced the challenges of those thrilling masterpieces. Once you are seduced by the romantic flavours of Liszt’s output (let it be solo works, concertante oeuvres, orchestral poems, transcriptions etc) such pieces become fixtures in your artistic career. From time to time, you’ll come back to them to discover something fresh and genuine. And they, for sure, reveal each time new facets, charming depths, more profound meanings.

After winning one of the most demanding international competitions for pianists (“Chopin” – Warsaw, 1975) Krystian Zimerman raised by night to a stunning celebrity, establishing himself as a promising musician. His technique has developed naturally ever since, so that the dazzling keyboard wizardry transformed step by step into a fully-rewarding musicianship of the most refined sort. His rare public appearances are opportunities for audiences to witness moments of absolute grace, to grasp some samples of musical inspiration at its supreme. Recorded in Boston (April, 1987), along with the celebrated local symphony orchestra under his chief conductor at the time Seiji Ozawa, this CD features Zimerman at his most inspired. Virtuosity serves music, music uplifts emotions and emotions fulfill sensitive souls of the listeners.