Search - Liszt, Barenboim, Berlin Philharmonic :: Dante Symphony / Dante Sonata

Liszt's symphonic masterpiece

Benjamin R. Garrison | Lynnwood, WA United States | 05/09/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After reading an excellent biography about Franz Liszt by Alan Walker (a 3-volume effort well worth reading), I naturally became even more interested in Liszt's music. Liszt was a very generous, kind and religious man in addition to being a genius of musical romanticism in the 19th century. I was not disappointed with this performance. It is excellent and inspiring, plus it captures the essence of Dante's horrific and heavenly visions. Casting about for something negative to say about this CD, I can only come up with this: There are a couple of odd humming or grunting sounds (very subtle but audible) that can be heard in the opening movement (Inferno). My guess is the conductor (Barenboim) gets a bit carried away and forgets he's being recorded. Maybe it's not him....but after repeated listenings I sort of liked that he was so enamoured by the score that he joins in. Again, this is a trivial detail that I should perhaps not even mention.Of the three movements, the 'Inferno' opening will probably be most instantly liked. The Paolo/Francesca love theme is only paralleled by Tchaikovsky's 'Francesca da Rimini.' No doubt Tchaikovsky was inspired by Liszt's work. Listen for the mocking harp at the end of the doomed lover's interlude. I didn't think harps could sound evil, but this one does. And the ending...wow...it contains an amalghem of intensely insane passions running amok. It is almost obscenely beautiful.Purgatory is excellent and well played here. It is very contemplative and introspective in nature and I love it. Liszt felt that no mortal could adequately capture Heaven, so he called the last movement "Magnificat." He was being too modest. It is gorgeous, wonderful music. Only Bach came as close to capturing it's nature. Buy this CD...I think you will agree."

Daniel Barenboim's best effort!

Nelphy | Italia | 03/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to confess that I don't like Daniel Barenboim as pianist very much. Especially, in Beethoven.
Anyway, I find "Dante Symphony" with him as conductor simply breathtaking!
Barenboim conducting here is really magnificent!
He expresses the horror of mournful damned, the unsufferable infernal tortures, and at the end, the Devil himself approaching to you! His "Inferno" is so full of demonic strenght, passion, the "Paolo e Francesca" noble episode is terrifing peaceful and idyllic. "Purgatorio" movement is so incredibly contemplative, mysterious, but what I find is really unbelievable is his "Magnificat"! The women chorus is so angelic and extremely pure,luminous, but also a little bit sorrowful. After all, is quite impossible to describe a place like this, especially for the miserable human being...
From the other hand, Liszt is more closer to the heaven than any other else!To sum up, I warmly advice you to get this CD! Is much, much better than the Decca's one with Lopez-Cobos, as well as Sinopoli's one on Deutsche Grammophon. Barenboim's great talent is shown just in this Symphony! I have also to praise him for having "discovered" this inexplicably neglected Liszt's Masterpiece. Bravo Daniel!"

Best "Dante" on record

Benjamin R. Garrison | 06/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the "Dante" Symphony to beat. I've never heard a better performance, either live or on record. Highest recommendation."