On October 22, 2011, the musical world will celebrate the 200th birthday of Franz Liszt. Garrick Ohlsson, one of the great piano virtuosi of the current era, contributes to the celebration with recordings of two of Liszt's towering achievements: the infrequently recorded Busoni transcription of Liszt's organ piece, "Fantasie und Fuge über den choral Ad nos, ad Salutarem Undam", (To us, to the healing waters, come again) S. 259 and, the most beloved of all of Liszt's piano compositions, the Sonata in B Minor, S. 178. Those who revel in great pianism need look no further than this spectacular program. Garrick Ohlsson also recently completed the 32 Beethoven sonatas for Bridge with the release of BRIDGE 9274A/B.
Reviews:
“I should have expected a knockout performance, but it was so strong that I was still taken by surprise. Garrick Ohlsson gives quite an aggressive performance of the Sonata. It is a no-holds-barred, virtuoso rendition quite unlike Hamelin and Zhang. Ohlsson misses none of the poetry either, but clearly plays this with all the vigor, drama, and excitement you could ever want.” - American Record Guide
“Ohlsson’s performance of Busoni’s mighty transcription makes this recording easily worth acquiring for that reason alone.” - BBC Music Magazine
“If you like Liszt playing that’s big, thoughtful, mature, intelligently virtuosic, and thoroughly engaging, buy this disc.” - ClassicsToday.com
“Exceptional performances and recording. Highly recommended.” - Fanfare
“This is a fine recording from the Bridge label, and I like Garrick Ohlsson’s performance. He creates a nice sense of anticipation in the enigmatic opening, is dramatic and dark with Liszt’s turbulent theme and its development, opening out with fine grandeur in the transition to a very nice poetic feel in the slower section from about 5 minutes in." - MusicWeb International
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Fantasie und Fuge über den choral Ad nos, ad Salutarem Undam S.259
(transcribed for solo piano by Ferruccio Busoni, 1897)
Sonata in B Minor, S. 178
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
BRIDGE 9337
Related discs:
9468A/B, 9409, 9380, 9320, 9287, 9274A/B, 9266, 9265, 9262, 9250, 9249, 9207, 9201, 9198, 9193, 9008