The best? You decide!
11/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you want the version of the Hungarian Rhapsodies that has the most sparkling, thunderous and breathtaking virtuosity, I'd say to get this set. Cziffra also seems to have the most fun playing these of any pianist--all the "Tom and Jerry" humor is here. If you want someone who brings out all that's sweet and delicate in the pieces (and there's much that IS sweet and delicate) buy the Michele Campanella version. If you want the best price and a more-than-competent straightforward reading without much individual quirkiness, go for the Jeno Jando set in the complete Liszt series from Naxos. The 19 different pianists version is interesting in places, but with lots of OLD hissing scratchy performances and pairings of pianists and pieces that probably nobody would agree with totally. But by all means avoid the Robert Szidon version unless you want everything that the above versions are NOT: completely idiosyncratic, full of muddy passages, personal cadenzas that distort the spirit of the music, irritations of all sorts."