Search - Liszt :: Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies [United Kingdom]

Astounding playing, touching performances

Mete Ibanoglu | Ankara, Turkey | 04/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had seen this CD on a local store some time ago but had opted to go with a different CD instead of this one that day, thinking that I could find this one the next time I visited. That was not so, the next time I couldn't find this set, so I gave up on it until I saw it today. Naturally I bought it right away.



I have listened to the Rhapsodies from a variety of players like Mischa Dichter, Horowitz, Szidon(!), Cziffra etc. Apart from Szidon I enjoyed them all, but there were two players that were just a lot better when playing these pieces. One was Mischa Dichter and the other Cziffra.



Well, Cziffra is always thought of as a technical wizard, a virtuoso. Course he's all that and then something more. He plays with such passion and feeling that I virtually had my jaw open today. Technically, there isn't anything that leaves you wishing for something more.



But what makes this CD so beautiful is definitely the highly personal interpretations of the works within. You can almost see Cziffra having fun at the piano.



Now, there is only one complaint. Sound quality is just baaaad. I mean that. The hissing sound could get quite intrusive at times and sometimes distracts your attention from the music.



I urge anyone who wants to listen to the Rhapsdies to get this set (regardless of the sound quality) and to be prepared for 131' 21'' worth of musical wonder."