Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Tarantella; Rhapsodie espagnole; Pensée des morts; St François d'Assise: la prédication aux oiseaux; Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude

Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Tarantella; Rhapsodie espagnole; Pensée des morts; St François d'Assise: la prédication aux oiseaux; Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude

Performing with unashamed virtuosity, sentiment, bravado, spiritual introversion and flashiness, Stephen Hough plays Liszt as if he had thought of every note himself. Technical effects are displayed with affection, grace and apparent ease and the Mephisto Waltz is truly demoniac; yet the peace, clarity and thoughtfulness of St François and the Bénédiction prove that there is far more to Liszt, and Hough, than showmanship. Stupendous, and excellent value. Jessica Duchen

Our rating

5

Jessica Duchen

Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:33 pm

COMPOSERS: Liszt
LABELS: Virgin Ultraviolet
WORKS: Mephisto Waltz No. 1; Tarantella; Rhapsodie espagnole; Pensée des morts; St François d’Assise: la prédication aux oiseaux; Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude
PERFORMER: Stephen Hough (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: CUV 5 61129 2 DDD (1988)

Performing with unashamed virtuosity, sentiment, bravado, spiritual introversion and flashiness, Stephen Hough plays Liszt as if he had thought of every note himself. Technical effects are displayed with affection, grace and apparent ease and the Mephisto Waltz is truly demoniac; yet the peace, clarity and thoughtfulness of St François and the Bénédiction prove that there is far more to Liszt, and Hough, than showmanship. Stupendous, and excellent value. Jessica Duchen

Jessica Duchen

Journalist and Critic, BBC Music Magazine

Jessica Duchen studied music at Cambridge University and was the classical music correspondent for The Independent from 2004 to 2016. She has also written for The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, BBC Music Magazine and the JC, among others. Jessica Duchen has written librettos include numerous choral works and operas for the composer Roxanna Panufnik, including Silver Birch, commissioned by Garsington Opera and shortlisted for an International Opera Award in 2018. Two more works based on stories by Oscar Wilde were commissioned for Garsington’s Youth Company, The Happy Princess with composer Paul Fincham (2019) and The Selfish Giant with John Barber, which fell victim to lockdown, this has been postponed to 2021.
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