Search - Franz Liszt, Michael Halasz, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra :: Liszt: Symphonic Poems

Forgotten Liszt

Joshua Grasso | Oxford, OH USA | 07/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was always a bit wary of Liszt's symphonic poems. Other than "Les Preludes," and sometimes "Mazeppa" and "Tasso," you don't really hear about them--and this despite Liszt's claim as the "father" of the symphonic poem. I avoided them for years until I accidentally heard "Prometheus." Wow. So I explored further and happened upon the present disc, which is a complete revelation for the Liszt nay-sayer.



First off, the pieces themselves. Though "Orpheus" is sometimes recorded, the remaining three are more or less unknown. And yes, I intend to argue that the neglect is quite unjust. The best piece here is easily "Orpheus," which is a beautiful, poetic, shimmering score--showing that Liszt was far more than mere virtuosity and bombast. But the remaining works are equally inspired and fascinating, though perhaps lack the last measure of precision and editorial shrewdness. "From the Cradle to the Grave" is a very late work, one that actually came decades after the series of 12 symphonic poems. It's a relatively short piece for Liszt, with a haunting first movement, showcasing the late-style Liszt, followed by a driving danse macabre, and capped off by a slower, somber reflection on life's end. A very effective piece that should be played more often. No one seems to have anything good to say about "The Ideals," possibly due to its length. Its program (based on Schiller) seems very similar to "Les Preludes," but the music is far less trimphant and tuneful. That said, it's a remarkably varied piece, full of rich melodies and extremely sensitive orchestration. And okak, though a bit long, I don't find it a bit boring and after several listens am really starting to love it. Finally, we have "Hamlet," which is a exciting, full-blooded Romantic portrait of the Danish prince. As Liszt himself admitted, Ophelia and much else of the play is disregared for Hamlet's mental anguish and thoughts of revenge. But it's a remarkably effective piece with great brass and swirling strings that would be aped by everyone from Wagner to Tchaikovsky. In fact, the more you listen to Liszt's orchestral works, the less pioneering most late Romantic composers sound.



The New Zealand orchestra plays with the utmost committment and really shines throughout. The sound is quite good and everything "sounds" on this CD. It's one of my all-time favorite Liszt discs, and at this price, it certainly pays to be curious. Enjoy."