Stephen Hough at His Best
D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 09/16/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Annees de pelerginage Primiere Annee - Suisse is a reworking (except for one piece) of an earlier work called Album d'un voyageur which recounts the liaison between Liszt and Marie d'Agoult when they decided in 1835 to elope to Switzerland. They remained there for 16 months and these pieces for piano recall places that the couple visited and the country itself. This was no small decision for Marie who left behind a daughter and life in a palatial house.
The first piece Chapelle de Guillaume Tell is a homage to the famous hero that starts quietly but builds to heroic dimensions before returning to the solemn beginning. Au lac de Wallenstadt recalls the lake the Liszt and Marie visited soon after they arrived in Switzerland, a piece written to bring out the peace and serenity that the waters of the lake conveyed to the pair. Pastorale is a portrait of the scenery of Switzerland and acts as a buffer between the two pieces concerned with water - the former piece and Au bord d'une source. The latter work is interesting in that it was heavily revised from the original which was played without a break from Au lac de Wallenstadt. The new version is more shimmering, intricately depicting the movement of water.
Orage was newly composed for this suite in Weimar and magnificently depicts a n Alpine storm. Orage contains the emotional music that we usually associate with Liszt's style. The longest piece is Vallee d'Obermann, inspired from a novel that is set in Switzerland. The music depicts the sense of awe Obermann has for nature and Liszt included a quite from the book with the music "What do I want? What am I? What do I ask of nature?" This is a somber and contemplative piece that has a stormy central section that gradually becomes more impassioned. Eglogue is a return to pastoral themes and the music has a playful tone, especially compare to the brooding quality of the piece that preceded it. Le mal du pays (Homesickness) is melancholy, as the title suggests but is more poignant than depressing or sad, rather like recalling a happy time that has vanished forever. The final work is Les cloches de Geneve which is subtitled Nocturne. It is a delicate piece that every so quietly suggests the tolling id distant bells and slowly builds to an emotional climax and gradually returning to the tone of the bells and slowly fading away.
This CD also includes Liszt's opera paraphrases after Charles Gounod. These are from Liszt's mature years and with the exception of the Faust waltz are not heard very often. The first selection is the lover's parting scene from Romeo and Juliet, which conveys a delicate feeling of parting and regret. The waltz from Faust follows. This was a very popular tune is Liszt's day and he has added garish harmonic twists that very effectively make Liszt's transcription a poke at Gounod while being a brilliant work for piano. The final selection is a berceuse from The Queen of Sheba, now an obscure opera. It is a charming lullaby written with a marvelous lightness that deserves to be better known.
I had the great privilege to heard Stephen Hough play some of the Annees de pelerinage - Suisse and commend his playing then and the CD recording as among the best of Liszt interpreters. He has the greatest sensitivity for the music and conveys the emotion of the music with great shading and coloring. It is a treat to be able to have a recording of this music from him.
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STEPHEN DOES IT AGAIN
GEORGE RANNIE | DENVER, COLORADO United States | 10/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm going to admit something here that probably will make me in some circles (especially in piano circles) a complete "philistine" musically-I don't particularly like Franz Liszt's music; at best, I'm kind of non-committal towards his music! (Now that I've said it, I DO feel better!) This new recording by Stephen Hough certainly goes a long way to improve my feeling towards the music of Liszt. Mr. Hough's playing is very beautiful and very sensitive conveying deep emotions. "Annees de pelerinage - Suisse" is truly a lovely work (at least in Stephen's hands). The paraphrases are most interesting as played by Mr. Hough. He truly is a stupendous pianist making these works on this album very appealing even to me.
Diffidently buy this album especially if you are a fan of Liszt. If you are like me, kind of "wishy-washy" in your admiration, buy it anyway because you will hear a master (Stephen Hough) of the piano at the top of his form.
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Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
