Franz Liszt
Markus Groh (piano)
"For God's sake! Not another recording of the Readers of Musical Pointers will not expect a comparative survey from us and being a Liszt-avoider I do not have any CDs of the B minor sonata! This recording will serve very well to fill that gap! Writing as a confirmed sceptic, it has been a pleasure to encounter the sonata after several years in the capable hands of the 1995 winner of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels, as good a recommendation as you can have in this compeition-dominated musical world. His account is lucid, pianistically impeccable in virtuosity and in sensitive phrasing and he builds the sections anto a convincing unity. The recording sound is of demonstration class, and the CD is greatly enhanced by the couplings with less over-played works. Having enjoyed recently a rare performance of Liszt's Totentanz with the Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music, I was intrigued to hear Groh play the solo piano arrangement by the composer. This works well, and was contrasted with the contrapuntal edifice which Liszt build upon J S Bach's initials. Recommended to Lisztians and others who are as open-minded as I was not! "Liszt playing of rare passion and musical integrity." Gramophone July 2006 |