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The Magnificent Thalberg

St. James | UK | 06/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The history of piano virtuosity is full of references to the rivals of Liszt. Students of the period suggest that Liszt won out -- and based on the monotonous uniformity of these opinions one wonders whether they merely evidence a single, endlessly recycled view. Kalkbrenner, Pixis, Dreyschock and Thalberg were all significant presences on stages and in salons but we hear almost none of their work today, even when modern recording technologies make recording their works relatively inexpensive. Indeed, it seems that most of the music that we hear of that Golden Age seems to be Liszt's. Now Liszt was a wonderful, wonderful composer for piano, but it is nice to have the opportunity to come to our own views on the matter. The two Thalberg transcriptions featured here are, as expected, performed with splash, the Donna de Lago pastiche being especially enjoyable. But Thalberg's etudes are thoughtful, meaty works that stay with the listener well after the recording ends. The pianist, Stefan Irmer, who previously recorded the delightful piano works of Rossini, approaches this music with the seriousness of purpose that made these works -- and their composer -- so popular in their and his time. I think these pieces are splendid, and Irmer a real find. Eviva!"