My review - Franz Liszt “ Greatest Hits Liszt “

This year 2011 is Franz Liszt’s 200 years celebration year (Liszt was born in 1811 ) and many top pianists and also Liszt fans and also Chopin fans community will be celebrating for it. Last year was Frederic Chopin’s 200 years celebration. He was born in 1810. They were born only one year apart. We are glad we are getting into Liszt at such a celebration time. My impression of Franz Liszt, “ He was not only challenging to be a top pianist, he was challenging to be far above the top of the piano world, like paganini was in the violin world . He wasn’t depending on his talent, but was constantly challenging to improve his talent into a limitless level. That may be the most inspiring thing about him. “ Recently we’ve been enjoying listening to this CD called “ Greatest Hits Liszt “ every day.

On this CD , My favorites are

Hungarian Rhapsody#2
La Campanella
Liebestraume ( Love dream )

Some long time Liszt fans said many newbie Liszt fans always love Hungarian Rhapsody #2. And they sounded already a little tired of it.

They want to talk about his many other music pieces. It’s something funny, newbie fans ( for almost any hobby ) almost always start to love something from the most popular one (?) in the beginning. My favorite rock group musicians also always play their biggest hit songs in every concert for their newbie fans. But...... I can’t help it , I really looooooove Hungarian Rhapsody#2 !!!! Love, love, love love, love !!!!! This music makes me SO happy every time I listen to it. I also realized that I’ve heard some parts of this music in some TV dramas or movies. It was also used in a Tom & Jerry’s animation story which used this music as well. But I didn’t know this music was composed by Franz Liszt. This music is very imaginative and I have been picturing many scenes and scenarios. and mainly I imagine a story about Eastern Europe, in the beginning part makes me imagine an old castle at the sunset time. Vampire story also comes my mind, then many vampires are having masquerade party. This Hungarian Rhapsody #2 is the version Liszt composed for orchestra, it was fantastic, but I’m also looking for his piano version. For Liebestraume, in this CD , it was played by Hiroko Nakamura, a Japanese pianist and she plays it excellently. I get a mixture of feelings which are warm and sentimental , so beautiful and very emotional. We have one more Liszt’s CD called “ Liszt Lovers “ , and Liebestraume in that CD is much more light and is not so emotional like Hiroko Nakamura’s performance. So I like Hiroko Nakamura’s piano playing much better. This music was used in some love story movies and I think I’ve heard this music in some of Japanese commercials. Ray is saying that his Mom loved many of Chopin’s music, but her favorite music of all was Liszt’ Liebestraume. And I understand why. This music is so romantic, beautiful, warm music. Many women love it. According to the description of “ Liszt Lovers” CD, It said “ While most composers created music after their love affairs were over, Liszt wrote while the fires were still burning. We hear the ardent emotions and ecstasy of love in his hypnotic “ Liebestraum “ which became his most famous encore. Liszt’s own arrangement of this love song begins with a gentle murmur recalling a past love. Gradually the dream of love is relived in all its intensity as the music rises to a passionate climax before returning to the opening strains ; a quiet , yearning meditation on love. “ This music has been spinning in my head. It’s very memorable music , that‘s for sure.

For Etitude N3 in G sharp minor “La Campanella“ , it was played by Kazune Shimizu. Incredible technique and very imaginative. Only climax part ( ending part ) , I prefer Yundi Li’s playing but I love all the other parts how he played. I just love this piece so much. La Campanella was always used in the movies or drama in the story about top level pianists. One thing though, it would be great if Liszt‘ “ Consolation No.3 in D flat major “ was included in this Greatest Hits CD. This is also very, very beautiful. Maybe I should make my own greatest Liszt . Liszt’s music has super variety, and his world sounds very wide, it’s extremely difficult to know what kind of person he really was. He sounds like a very complex person, as was Chopin. In this CD,( Greatest Liszt CD ), I also love " Hungarian Fantacia fo piano ad orchetra ", and also "Allegro maestoso from piano conerto No.1 in E-at major".

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