Search - Liszt, Schumann :: Sonata in B Minor / Fantasie in C Op 17

This is an unusual event on recordings: a relatively unknown pianist takes on two of the great showpieces of the Romantic repertoire. To say that his success is mixed would be understating the truth. Aquilles Delle-Vigne's Liszt Sonata is an intriguing, mostly excellent performance. Despite a few blurred passages, he handles the music's extreme technical demands well and gives a musically adventurous, convincing performance. To these ears, though, the Schumann is an utter disaster, a musical travesty of inappropriately distorted rhythms and sentimentality. You can certainly make a case that a fine Liszt Sonata is worth the asking price of this disc, but watch out for that Schumann! --Leslie Gerber