Search - Tye, Winchester Choir, Hill :: Cathedral Music

Beautiful recording of beautiful music

Jesper Hansen | Aarhus Denmark | 07/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This double cd is possibly the finest recording by Howard of all the Liszt volumes. The two cd's contain some of the most beautiful music Liszt has ever written, but sadly, most of it is being neglected by artists today. From "Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses" only the Funerailles is played, but pieces like Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude and Hymne de L'enfant a son Reveil are two of Liszt finest pieces. Almost without exception, all of the pieces on these discs are masterpieces. You owe yourself to listen to them and enjoy them. Superb plying by Howard who has really manifested himself as one of the alltime greatest Liszt interpreters.A must have for Liszt fans and people who enjoy piano music at it's best."

Leslie Howard's Religious Liszt

Alscribji | Washington, D.C. | 06/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Leslie Howard has recorded so much of the Liszt solo piano music that I can't recall the latest volume number. As listeners familiar with the Liszt/Howard CDs know, some are better than others, both from a performance perspective and a recording perspective. The pianos that Howard uses (all Steinway, of course) seem to vary in quality as well. But this particular volume, Harmonies poetiques et religeuses, volume 7, shines as one of the Gems in all of the volumes. Whereas in other volumes, the great performance might be marred by bad recording, or else the performance was just a little weak (no offense to Howard, but NOBODY can expect to shine in EVERY Liszt composition), in this volume, everything comes together: spectacular, controlled, and even pianism from Howard, on a great sounding Steinway, and with some of the best recording/production quality found in all of the Liszt volumes, with exception to, maybe, the latest supplementary volume, New Discoveries--2. Track 1 on the first CD is probably one of the most beautiful and the most powerful Ave Maria's written for Romantic Solo Piano. It's climax should be heard on a full stereo system cranked up. This double CD also has the advantage of introducing the listener to little-known Liszt piano music that is sometimes unearthly, a shame that it is not performed as often. The second CD is full of great religious music played to the hilt by Howard. Found here is the famous Funerailles, that most know from the old Horowitz recording of it from the 1950s or 1960s. It is a wonder, however, that the other pieces here have not made their way onto the concert stage as often as Funerailles. Pity. If you are a newcomer to the Liszt/Howard series or an oldtimer yet to hear this particular volume, then this double CD needs listening to. It is really stupendous in every way a solo piano CD can be! Get it."

Double dose of delectability

Franz Liszt | 03/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"And I don't even know if "delectability" is a word. The pieces here are relatively short, and just lovely; spiritual lovely, if you will. Leslie Howard's playing is fantastic here; stuff of goose bumps. And, as with most of the Liszt-Howard series, the CDs are more then 70 minutes each. I only mention this because yesterday I saw a double-CD of Monteverdi's "Vespers" and the second disc was like 35 minutes. A horror, in this digital age. SO: this set contains the famous "Funerailles" and other wonderful pieces you should know. Full recommendation."