Van Cliburn: My Favorite Liszt
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CD Details
Composer: Franz LisztPerformer: Van Cliburn
Edition: Music CD
Format: Live
CD Release Date: 2000-05-16
Music Label: RCA
Soundtracks:
- Sonata In B Minor
- Un sospiro
- Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
- Consolation No.3
- Consolation No.5
- Liebestraum No.3
- Mephisto Waltz
Music reviews of Van Cliburn: My Favorite Liszt
Music Review: Outstanding Liszt Sonata
Rating: 5 Stars
When I was a serious student of the piano back in the 1970's and 80's I was discouraged from admitting that I liked Cliburn's playing. Cliburn was viewed by the cogniscenti as a pianist unjustly thrust into the limelight through his spectacular achievement of having won the Tchaikovsky competition. Our celebration of his accomplishment, they argued, was more political than it was musical. I remember my piano teacher telling me that Cliburn was far behind many of his peers because he only had a limited repertoire. He achieved major success while knowing just a few concertos. Moreover, he apparently had some personal struggles after his success that affected his ability to perform.
I reviewed elsewhere on this website Cliburn's recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 recorded shortly after that victory in Moscow. I maintain that the seriously discerning Russian audience knew greatness when they heard it and that Cliburn deserved the accolades that he received. Apparently, no less a luminary than Sviatoslav Richter agreed. Richter was one of the jurists for that competition and he very quickly identified Cliburn as the only acceptable prizewinner, eliminating every other contestant.
Some have argued, however, that the period from which this Liszt recording was taken found Cliburn less consistently great. I cannot disagree, but this Liszt recording deserves to be placed alongside the best of Cliburn's output, which for me includes that famous Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto recording, his Rach 3 -- also recorded shortly after the competition -- and his recording of Samuel Barber's Piano Sonata and Prokofiev's Sixth Piano Sonata. I might also include his recording of Rach 2 and his recording of Chopin's Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 and 3 though I'm sure some would disagree.
I will focus my attention on the Liszt Sonata which is the first track on this CD and the primary work. This is a "must hear" recording, especially if you are familiar with the Liszt Sonata through from such well known performances as the early one by Horowitz or Argerich. Cliburn is completely dedicated to lyricism at every point. He consistently directs the ear to the major themes, motifs and melodies. This performance sings like no other. He does not allow the listener to get lost in complicated passage work, as tempting as it might be to demonstrate how much else is going on. Every aspect is harnessed to musical ends and, for Cliburn, cantabile is the goal. He achieves it beautifully. This recording is absolutely memorable and you will come back to it again, and again.
I am in complete agreement with another reviewer who listed Gilels' performance, along with Cliburn's, as the one to reach for. I would now add Stephen Hough's recent offering. These performances are such a welcome counterweight to the more common tendency to use the Liszt Sonata as a vehicle for technical showmanship. Cliburn (as well as Gilels and Hough) plays flawlessly but they have so much more to say than what you hear in the more typical performance. Even the celebrated performance by Zimerman, for example, becomes much less interesting after comparing it to this Cliburn recording, in my opinion.
If you do not have this recording of the Liszt Sonata, and if the Liszt Sonata is important enough to you to have more than one recording, then I strongly urge you to add this performance to your collection. Please let me know if you end up disagreeing with me.
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