Franz Liszt Ludwig van Beethoven Cyprien Katsaris - BeethovenLiszt Symphonies Nos 19 (37 tracks) +Album Reviews

Amazing throughout

Enrique Ovidio Carro Rey | 11/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set of five CDs is astonishing. Liszt was a genius, and the human that best understood the piano, and how to write for this instrument. He left to posterity many examples of this (Rapsodies, consolations...), but his transcription of Beethoven's colossal simphonic works are astounding. Katsaris masters this sometimes hellish pieces with an admirable command and ease. The sound he manages to produce is so dense that it's a wonder that it's achieved with only two hands, a foot and a piano. There are so many passages in this set to remark, that this review would become a speech, if I put them all here. Just listen to the beginning of the Fifth, or the second movement of the Seventh, or the glorious Ninth, or the marvellous Marche funebre of the Third, or..."

Truly astonishing

J. Kuffner | Mountain View, CA, USA | 08/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having heard the orchestral versions of Beethoven's symphonies many times before, I was intrigued when my friend recommended that I check out this recording of the Liszt piano transcriptions.

Needless to say, I was amazed by the performance (particularly the Pastorale, No.6). The sound is so full at times, that I completely forgot that it is being produced by a single piano (and a single person). I am hypnotized by these recordings and have listened to them for countless hours since.

I heard that it took Katsaris many years to polish and record all of these transcriptions, and his dedication and hard work has paid off tremendously with this heavenly recording.

Very highly recommended.

"

Absolutely spectacular!

Stephan Samuel | Denver, CO, USA | 02/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's rare that you find a pianist as good as Cyprien Katsaris who goes through the effort to produce something as difficult and pedantic as the Liszt transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies. The result in this case is professional, passionate and articulate.

Beethoven's symphonies are as important to the field of classical music as any other set of works. They convey the many sides of Beethoven's character and unchallenged depth while making advances to the rigid style as allowed by the contemporary rules. Liszt did a stunning job of transcribing them, maintaining every bit of depth and passion. In a way, the transcriptions are a very sophisticated performance interpretation written by a man who continued the traditions of Beethoven through a line of teachers and students.

Katsaris provides a faithful reproduction of Liszt's transcription without the dull mechanical sheen usually found in performances of these pieces. His passion and commitment to the piece is easily heard throughout all nine symphonies. His attention to detail is fanatical and he has the presence to bring these pieces to life.

I recommend this recording to anyone who wishes to investigate the Beethoven-Czerny-Liszt heritage and delve deeper into the hidden meaning in Beethoven's symphonies.

"

Beethoven, Liszt & Katsaris: A marriage made in heaven.

E. C. Alvarez | King of Prussia, PA USA | 05/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will admit up front that I do now own many of Katsaris' recordings, I do know that he is a pianist of the rare breed for our modern times: he composes, improvises, conducts the piano. To put this important element in perspective, that is precisely what Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and even Horowitz did. It's one thing to be a performer, another to be a composer/performer. To dare build on someone elses work is quite something, improvisation an art long gone in today's world of "perform, don't interpret" pianism. Once appointed head of the new Budapest Conservatory of Music, Liszt required that all pianists study improvisation and composition. No compromises. That level of pianism is what Katsaris brings to us.

I am not saying that Katsaris did his own thing with this recording, let me be clear with that. He performs the Liszt as he wrote it, and the only changes were additions in a couple of measures that he discloses in a personal statement in the insert. What Katsaris does do is bring out a level of sound in the piano tha I had not encountered previously. I am a faithful of the Karajan recordings of the Symphonies, and now I find myself enjoying the piano versions even more. Since Katsaris embodies the pianist, the composer and the director, he makes a perfect fit for this compilation of Beethoven's work made to the piano by his disciple Liszt.

The playfulness of the first two Symphonies, the majesticness of the Third, the thundrous Fifth, the melodic Sixth, the innovative Seventh and the crown jewel, the Ninth, all reproduced by two hands (and feet!).

To my knowledge, the only other recent full recording was made as part of Leslie Howard's massive enterprise of recording all of Liszt's piano music. Before that, I believe this collection was recorded before the 1950s.

The sound is clear and the piano is fierce in this recording, and I would recommend it to any lover of Beethoven and Liszt. Since this is a collection rarely recorded, it is hard to compare and make assessments. I do know that it is a great companion to piano lovers, and a great object of study for those interested to listen how Liszt (barely) completed the monumental task of reducing a full orchestra to two daring hands."

One of the most famed pianists in the world !

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 07/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Cyprien Katsaris is an astonishing pianist. His countless contributions respect minor works of well known composers such Brahms for instance, made of him to defy that epic challenge that means to play these Nine Symphonies transcribed by Franz Liszt for the keyboard.

You may realize that, with the only exception of Leslie Howard, there has not been any other pianist who has decided to face with the countless difficulties demanded for the score.

But Katsaris confers éclat, elegance and expressiveness, without losing that Beethovenian drive force,that makes - at least to my mind - an insurmountable and excel effort worthy to admire and acknowledge.

Don't miss these extraordinary recordings of this notable pianist.

"

Search - Franz Liszt, Ludwig van Beethoven, Cyprien Katsaris :: Beethoven/Liszt: Symphonies, Nos. 1-9

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