Liszt: Reminiscences de Norma (Tozer)

Liszt was a phenomenal transcriber for solo piano, as his Beethoven symphonic transcriptions show. Not all of his operatic fantasies are masterworks, but Reminiscences de Norma must rank as one of the most gorgeous in the genre ever written. On the purely technical level, as one would expect, fireworks are everywhere - hand crossing, scales, octaves, complex arpeggiation, three-handed effects, the lot. But, far more importantly, the musical decoration works beautifully with and upifts the thematic material - from the stark opening and the rumbling, stately introduction of the first theme, to the playful combination of two main themes in the final pages.
Geoffrey Tozer’s recording of Norma stands out in a field already packed with excellence. There is more melodic clarity and warmth (and more scrupulous fidelity to the score, especially in relation to pedaling) than there is in Hamelin’s performance, and more bravura and excitement than in Leslie Howard’s.

[@jonathankurilan6047]

Every single moment in this piece is just gorgeous, but 11:48 is just an unexplainable beauty.

[@nezkeys79]

Yonatan Kurilan yeah i actually teared up at that part and i dont know what the piece is about lol only that it was beautiful

[@nezkeys79]

Yonatan Kurilan 14:27 to the end might be a contender to take that title though ;(

[@ethanmitchell9642]

Surely 6:55 - 9:02 would fit your description better? The tone quality Tozer gives to the arpeggiation at 11:48 and beyond doesn't make me think of 'beautiful' in all fairness.

[@fuckfuckiluvesex]

4:40 in my opinion is the best part of the song

[@pilaricaabaya7962]

Yonatan Kurilan ki

[@fryderykfranciszekchopin3711]

This was the same year I wrote the Op.48 Nocturnes. This is my favorite piece by Liszt Ferenc.

[@nowitskevin3951]

me too chopin. me too. and you're my favorite composer jussayin you're a genius

[@kronoxd9697]

Practically there's nothing wrong here, but something doesn't match here

[@LudwigvanBeethoven11]

Glad to see the boys grown up :)

[@donsancho6690]

Ludwig van Beethoven me Me and the boys pioneering maximalism in music

[@bilyanaconsulova405]

Unfortunately Ferenc didn't compose this.

[@yingsteven2246]

This piece is so underrated, a lot of people go away simply because it's Liszt and the fact that it's 16 minutes long, but man this is just extraordinary, full of beautiful melodies and insane diversity. An absolute masterpiece.

[@yingsteven2246]

I mean it's based on Bellini's opera but with the amount of elegance in this transcription, I am absolutely dumfounded

[@code_magix1986]

True

[@Lisztomaniac1022]

I love Liszt pieces favourite is his Piano Sonata in B minor

[@Paganini-Liszt]

Not eveybody can play Liszt, and I understand that. Even I haven't done this myself yet. (I did it now)

[@radamik]

It is a magnificent work and played here so well - always stunned by how majestic it is and that ending - just beyond words.

[@supremetaco5349]

You already know that traum is probably going to master this piece and post it like nothing.

[@unidentifieduser5346]

When?

[@claradeusviolinus5080]

13:24 that's Harry Potter guys

[@tvish1031]

Lol😅

[@fredericchopin6445]

no fuck off

[@charlesgong8526]

7:02 6:02

[@circularchallah3751]

A great piece to recommend to beginners

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

I agree.

[@epileptiquitopark7971]

hah! hah! to beginners? hah!

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

@@epileptiquitopark7971 Of course! All us composers learned this at the age of three!

[@circularchallah3751]

@@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven lmbo ludwig

[@makaan699]

Well, for listening, sure. What better to motivate you to try harder and practice.

[@matthewhoffman3911]

15:16 brilliant interweaving of two melodies.

[@marcocampus7943]

Yes, between Dell'aura tua profetica and Commosso è già. A perfect combination between the first and last concertatos

[@marcocampus7943]

0:00 Sinfonia 2:38 Introduzione 4:19 Dell'aura tua profetica 7:53 Deh non volerli vittime 9:03 Qual cor tradisti 11:48 Commosso è già 13:23 Guerra guerra 15:15 Mashup between Dell'aura tua profetica (4:19) and Commosso è già (11:48)

[@conde2538]

Thank you very much!

[@ValzainLumivix]

Thanks

[@qalaphyll]

@@ValzainLumivix indeed

[@rainchen7846]

4:19 reminds me of the march of the puritains

[@leidannis9544]

How can you find that? I can’t find this in Google.

[@AndreiAnghelLiszt]

At 15:15, the combination of the 4:19 theme in the left hand with the latter 11:48 theme in the right hand is fucking genius.

[@luciferlyset7543]

Woah, I clicked on the 4:19 button when I was AT 4:19 xd.

[@monition5655]

Polyphony

[@saxy1player]

These reappearances of patterns in different roles is what I love so much about Liszt's music!

[@ucokcok3340]

@@luciferlyset7543 Lmao

[@Asymmetrization]

he does the same in danse macabre transcription too

[@guavaguy4397]

The hardest part about listening to this is trying not to move or become overwhelmed by emotion.

[@classicore22]

No need to feel embarrassed! Music is meant to inspire people.

[@rotatoe]

Let it flow brother

[@gligorvladimir1121]

Possibly my new favourite piece by Liszt.

[@MiorAkif]

This piece shows a lot of Liszt's sentimental side (instead of his usual gallantry). Its my new favorite of his as well.

[@samthepianoman]

Liszt ballade 1 all the way

[@samthepianoman]

Or this

[@samthepianoman]

I’m not sure

[@luizmelofilho]

@@MiorAkif jesus, this is not from liszt. It's a transcription. It's from Bellini!!

[@quentinferrao7719]

Liszt is actually really well known for his easily beginner compositions like these

[@kieraasahi8240]

@@jamesliu1001 u didnt understand the joke

[@simonlajcman4031]

@@jamesliu1001 that late? I sightread this when i first play the piano at 2 months. What asian Child you ARE haiya! !!!!!FAILURE!!!!!

[@Bussybus463]

@@kieraasahi8240 you didnt understand the joke

[@kieraasahi8240]

@@Bussybus463 u didn't understand what I meant

[@Max-yp1iw]

@@kieraasahi8240 ?

[@Tizohip]

14:27 one of the best parts in piano literature.

[@dialex3755]

11:48 - Unbelievable beauty! Crying!!

[@marcocampus7943]

Final of Norma. Concertato: "Commosso è già"

[@NameNik223]

It is unbelievable how much beauty can be created on just one piano

[@pleasecontactme4274]

@@NameNik223 leave it to liszt lol

[@heehaaification]

15:10 - 15:16 MY WHOLE HEART

[@pleasecontactme4274]

same lol

[@bateman7573]

reminiscent of chopin’s op10 no11

[@anthonyc6017]

Those rolls sound so amazing and not like a piano at all, it sounds like someone is speaking

[@heehaaification]

@@bateman7573 oh wow didn't make that connection! really enjoy that etude as well :)

[@amerain1729]

@@bateman7573 First time I heard a clip of that section on YT I thought it was Chopin

[@qntwshvl429]

Seldom people play in a proper speed at 15:15 like Tozer, he plays the section gracefully when many others play too rush and cannot control their both hands to make the two main melodies stand out.

[@stravinskyfan]

they obviously can, just not in their liking

[@mydog1871]

No way is this live, nobody coughed!

[@スシチャンそう]

My Dog there was no clapping at the end. It should not be a live

[@treesny]

@@スシチャンそう I assume this derives from Tozer's excellent studio Liszt CD (Chandos).

[@samthepianoman]

Probably

[@thatsEforEveryone]

This must be in Asia where they have more class when it comes to classical music 😂😂😂

[@ΠαύλοςΚ-σ2ο]

@@thatsEforEveryone it's because every Asian is forced to play an instrument anyway

[@mikemason6069]

11:49 has to be the most beautiful B natural in the repertoire. Prove me wrong!

[@philip.stigaard]

Brahms Ballade no 2, the middle part in b major is really beautiful

[@ponteacampata]

Scriabin's fantasia has its climax in b major and its ridiculously beautiful

[@JudeWeatherington]

at 13:04 i was bewildered by how beautiful the melody was but then i was reminded that i’m listening to liszt and he wants to do liszt things

[@pawncube2050]

Lol

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

And two seconds later Jaws shows up

[@davidnoranavascues4489]

Actually my favourite part, didn't expect that

[@Mereaux]

[@marinadela1361]

That part ruined it for me.

[@charliegold3227]

I play this in my next recital. I’m so excited to start this piece

[@christianvennemann9008]

Good luck!

[@charliegold3227]

@@christianvennemann9008 thanks

[@hayopjsk0726]

how is it now? Have you finished the piece? Also,since I'm also starting this piece,can you give me some suggestions?

[@xevivr]

@@hayopjsk0726 idk but as always as these guy never respond after their comment

[@hayopjsk0726]

@@xevivr yeah lol

[@LeLe-rb2fi]

Swear to God this is masterpiece.

[@blakeray9856]

Le Le absolutely, it certainly is!

[@gerardbegni2806]

@@blakeray9856 Listen however the quite simple transcription of the aria with corus 'Casta Diva' written by Chopin - nevertheless a virtuoso . This is quite another world. Chopin forgot his vituosity, and this transcription is honestly playable by a gifted amateur.

[@tonyping3678]

It certainly is!!!

[@otakuxgirl6]

@@gerardbegni2806 what do you mean

[@stacia6678]

@@otakuxgirl6 He’s just a Chopin hater. Don’t mind him.

[@christianvennemann9008]

0:59 "I thought love was only true in fairy tales."

[@huangfrancis8717]

It's not just a show off piece. It's also a wonderful masterwork!

[@aymericd.6126]

Compared to the don Juan réminiscence, it seems to be a beginner piece 😅

[@huangfrancis8717]

Haha. You are right, but i love the melody of this piece.

[@vnwa7390]

@@aymericd.6126 Compared to Liszt's Magnificent "Symphonie Fantastique," which is 70 pages long, after Berlioz, both the Don Juan and Norma seem like beginner pieces. Add on his transcription works of ALL of Beethoven's Symphonies, especially the 9th, for piano solo; that which runs about 90 pages. Liszt's most difficult Operatic Transcription, the Lucrezia Borgia, also makes these pieces look like beginner pieces.

[@Asymmetrization]

@@vnwa7390 whilst i do partially agree, i think youre forgetting just how earthshatteringly difficult don juan is

[@vnwa7390]

@@Asymmetrization None of Liszt’s work is really “earthshatteringly” difficult; it’s the same romantic type of music over and over again, and especially when compared to many composers’ music, such as Sorabji, Finnissy, etc, tbh.

[@Epic-1224]

One of the greatest things that happened to classical mussic

[@peterwylliejohnston]

Geoffrey Tozer played this piece frequently in recitals in the late 1980s and into the 1900s, both in Australia and overseas, notably in Canberra (1987), in Ireland at the Wexford Festival (1986) and in Russia on tour in 1990, later recording it for Chandos. He sometimes listened to various recordings of the Callas Norma, to reflect on the need for vocal musicality in piano performance. (Peter Wyllie Johnston - Executor to the Estate of Geoffrey Tozer).

[@gergelykiss]

Without Liszt I would have never realized what an amazing genius Bellini was. Those melodies are drop-dead gorgeous, Norma is full of wonders - and not being an opera-enthusiast I wouldn't have thought of listening to it if not for this fantasy. Liszt manages to conjure up the atmopshere from the original scenes with his textures, harmonies, accompaniments and linking passages. And the way he introduces "Guerra, Guerra" is just fantastic - so energetic, creative and arises perfectly organically from Bellini's material itself. Brilliant - such a lucky coincidence that Liszt was a massive Bellini fan! He wrote a simple little piano piece 40 years after Bellini's death in his memory.

[@johnlaurencepoole6408]

The New York Metropolitan Opera offered Norma for free last night. I know nothing about the opera other than through the Liszt transcription which I have been working on for the last decade. It was a real experience to watch the opera and relate the passages of the piano work I know only to well. Themes I thought were Liszt's really are Bellini's, I am very anxious now to learn more about Bellini's other operas. Puccini's La Boehme has always been my favorite, but Norma could be a contender for that position. There is a sound-only version on KZbin featuring Marie Callas recorded in 1954. Stunning.

[@gergelykiss]

@@johnlaurencepoole6408 Norma is a fantastic work, and Bellini was a fantastic composer - Liszt's work is not so much a transcription as a fantasy on Bellini's tunes and an attempt to share his personal musical thoughts and memories regarding the opera. The themes and inspiration comes from Bellini, the finished product can be considered a posthumous collaboration. It is a beautiful thing. Good luck with your Norma-project.

[@catherinetypist2371]

I think Liszt promoted many of his fellow musicians through his transcriptions in his days. There was no youtube videos and recording during those time.

[@treesny]

How wonderful that Liszt led you to Bellini's masterpiece... and I think Liszt would have been happy to know that his music was the "bridge"! When I was in my early 20s, I had the great good fortune to work on the production staff for Beverly Sills's first go at the title role (she was spine-shiveringly sublime in her final plea to Oroveso) which is probably the best way to really learn a piece, short of performing it! When I heard Liszt's "recollections," it brought back the tremendous emotional impact of that first encounter. Tozer has really absorbed the "world" of Bellini's drama, a tremendous recording.

[@robert111k]

@@johnlaurencepoole6408, try Caballé's Orange 1974.

[@janmarkowicz4633]

"Qual cor tradisti...." theme variation starting at 10:22 - pure, unexplainable beauty

[@rattywoof5259]

6:30 - OMG just look at all those accidentals! By the time I'd worked out what notes to play, he'd be five pages further on.

[@duffman7674]

They are chromatic, so after you read one, you can just play the next one one half tone step lower.

[@antonygonzalez1672]

DuffMan you’re smart😂

[@antonygonzalez1672]

egil larsen yea once you get accustomed to reading it I know it’s not difficult

[@ousejamais1vezousejamais1vez]

Its not a hard piece. I am a beginner, and i learned it with "sintezia". See my video

[@ousejamais1vezousejamais1vez]

@@duffman7674 as a beginner, i learned it in 2 days with "sintezia". Its not so difficult...believe me

[@duncanrichardson2167]

Who here will acknowledge the length and beauty of Bellini's melodies, on which this (double) masterpiece is founded?

[@DynastieArtistique]

No one apparently. Looks like no one here even knows who Bellini or Norma is, neither do they know that these are not Liszts themes and that it’s his musical commentary on Norma

[@piano345]

Wow stunning performance so passionate and emotional. I would have loved to have heard it played by Liszt players such as Cziffra, Horowitz or Cherkassky as it needs a big technique, emotional response and a feeling for space and grandeur.

[@alkanliszt]

There is the Bolet live recording. Really beautiful sound, but from the three-hand section on the listener becomes uncomfortably aware of how ill he was at the time of the performance.

[@MegaPianogenius]

I love hamelins performance

[@ioannispetropoulos478]

There is no better than this. Tozer is simply the best, he is the Liszt expert and one of the best pianist of all times!

[@donkgated8074]

@@ioannispetropoulos478 Tozer is utterly incredible here. It's unbelievable how little his home country Australia cares - why he wasn't more prominent in the Australian music circle is stupid and reeks of tall poppy syndrome. Instead people like Gerard Willems and Stephanie McCallum who can't play the piano for peanuts are celebrated. What a joke.

[@heleninlawrence2217]

Davidherzberg has the splendid Lewenthal up

[@thecozytrader00]

Back again, after Alkan, never heard any composer making a Piano sounding like an entire orchestra like this, magical, delvish as only Liszt could be in the Mephisto passages.

[@legogunproducts7776]

0:00 Maybe I can play this piece. 0:42 oh shit never mind

[@asd-du3ey]

Help. I can't stop listening to this

[@cristianmunteanu7071]

Bruh me neither

[@DynastieArtistique]

@@thenotsookayguyyes, but the operas they’re based on are much better. Go listen to Norma

[@lukasmiller486]

13:20 This is the first time I heard the piece but when it got to this part I said “Oh boy, I know what’s coming!” since I’ve heard the opera before.

[@aymericd.6126]

"Gerra, Gerra !"

[@mikehungus813]

JAWSSSSS

[@samthepianoman]

What happens in the opera

[@ValzainLumivix]

@@samthepianoman Guerra guerra

[@nilsragnar1347]

11:48 Is just wow.... These are the moments that inspire us to practice and to always reach for higher levels of playing.

[@jarjuicemachine]

That is like almost the easiest part of the piece, cuz those are just fast arppegios (which are of course very hard but I think fast octaves are harder, especially for octave arppegios)

[@nilsragnar1347]

@@jarjuicemachine I know it's far from the peak in terms of technical difficulty, I just think it's very epic 🙂

[@BBB-hi4hc]

@@jarjuicemachine I struggle with that part more than the octaves part

[@navalbaguette784]

@@BBB-hi4hc It's... terrifyingly hard though it may look 'easy' on first sight (ofc it ain't). Currently putting practice on hold as I don't know how to properly synchronize left and right in that section, any advice? Need help. Also at 14:28, help, the original is better than the Ossia in my opinion (not to say it's 'bad' in any way)

[@BBB-hi4hc]

@@navalbaguette784 Just practice slowly at start and match left hand to the note of the arpeggios. I know it’s annoying but it’s the only way to do. Also practice right hand alone to get full speed arpeggio. After practice for a while til I used to the slower version, I will try practice by let my left hand flow without thinking about matching note since you should get a bit of rhythm and timing from the practice that I mentioned before. Then build up speed. At 14:28 just practice scale, same as arpeggio, start slowly then build up speed. I’m not a professional. I’m just practice piano as my hobby. I don’t know if these are good advice. All of these are from my trial and error lol

[@김평기-z8d]

진짜 리스트는 천재다 ㅎㄷㄷ 어떻게 이런 음악을 만들수가 진짜 대단하다

[@DynastieArtistique]

He didn’t make this music. It was Bellini

[@christophcloren4740]

An overwhelming pianistic firework ! But with beautiful melodic expression. It is as shame that this wonderful musician is no more alive !

[@thatromanticpianist3177]

From 7:17 up to 7:42... it is so beautiful. Reminds me of Chopin in a mesmerising way; just pure emotion.

[@jerrywang2185]

I would have to disagree, the passage sounds almost as light as a feather, but so dark at the same time much like what French composers of the 20th century wrote like Poulenc

[@zombieperson620]

More like 6:44 up to 7:53

[@amirmoshir2239]

Chopin was unique in piano although i like liszt and then other composers pieces too.

[@mazeppa1231]

Liszt always has stuff like this in his fantasies and reminiscences. Sonnambula, Niobe, Lucrezia Borgia, Juive etc.. there is always that one section in the middle that has something that could really captivate you, and this is one of them.

[@zombieperson620]

mazeppa1231 Thanks for the piece recommendations:)

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

Was the use of Fate motifs at the beginning intentional?

[@relaxpoweryt2707]

6:27 its like an introduction to something that is gonna be amazing and you know it.

[@MrThrond]

Try the Kocsis version. Flames and tears

[@prammar1951]

Yeah. Zoltan's performance of this piece is one of the best piano performances in history.

[@marker52]

I prefer Tozer in terms of overall tempo but Zoltan’s had so much more color especially in the right hand arpeggio section

[@RedZed1974]

My God, I could listen to Liszt's orchestral/chamber transcriptions all day.

[@donkgated8074]

"...more bravura and excitement than in Leslie Howard’s" That's faint praise. Leslie Howard's Liszt recordings mostly sound like he's just sightreading and playing the notes, nothing more.

[@samthepianoman]

Tru

[@suremate]

His Norma is actually one of the best ones at least from a musical standpoint.

[@jacobsimonson9040]

His Liszt recordings are quantity over quality

[@rowanwild8445]

3:41 to 4:11 oh god, such exquisite textures

[@ruyfaco]

As much as I like Bellini, this is better than Norma itself.

[@napoleonicwarfare4621]

Ruy Facó I’m going to have to disagree but this is probably Liszt’s best work. I’m not the biggest fan of Liszt but his reminisces are wonderfully written and very emotionally captivating.

[@gergelykiss]

@@napoleonicwarfare4621 I agree that this is arguably Liszt's finest operatic fantasy, certainly my favourite. Probably many would prefer the Don Juan reminiscences, which is another masterpiece. But as wonderful as these fantasies are, there are many Liszt works that are generally considered to rank alongside the greatest works of his contemporaries: the b-minor Sonata, Orpheus, the Faust Symphony, Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este, Via Crucis - if you are unfamiliar with these I would honestly suggest you give them a try. :) Via Crucis is unique in the whole Romantic Era, without precedent or proper comparison. Try to check out Reinbert de Leeuw's recording with the Netherlands Chamber Choir. It's on Spotify. It's mindblowing.

[@treesny]

@@gergelykiss As is his recent, second recording with Collegium Vocale Gent (on Alpha-Classics): even more intimate - just 16 singers, who also take the solo parts - and profoundly moving. Plus, he also recorded the piano-only version! (There's a live video of him playing it on KZbin.) Extraordinary piece, extraordinary pianist/conductor. :-)

[@vnwa7390]

@@gergelykiss Liszt's "Lucrezia Borgia" is by far his most difficult Operatic Transcription and blasts this, the Don Juan, (3 Verdi), and other transcriptions out of the water for me, not to mention that I prefer the musicality there too. If you haven't yet, Katsaris' performance of Liszt's transcription of LVB's 9th Symphony is absolutely astounding.

[@suremate]

Ruy Facó Not even close.

[@lookitsnick8164]

4:19 is literally the best part to listen to!

[@antonygonzalez1672]

Look! IT'S NICK I agree I always try and find a part I look forward to just to keep me motivated through the unknown and that’s the part I look forward to for this piece. Other parts now too because I’m more familiar with the now but before it was true.

[@janmarkowicz4633]

It has to be musically the best one-movement piano piece ever composed, I must say!!!

[@williambunter3311]

Jan Markowicz, I agree completely. If I could play just one piece of virtuoso music, it would be this one. Sadly, I can only dream!

[@janmarkowicz4633]

@@williambunter3311 I'm an amateur pianist but I can play even more advanced pieces, like Chopin's harder works (Ballade in G minor, many Polonaises, Barcarolle etc.). Hovewer this masterwork is so challenging that there are only single pianists in whole world who can play it. Sadly for it's only a dream for me also :3

[@maryd4369]

what about liszt bm?

[@samthepianoman]

Which bm

[@maryd4369]

Stonefish b minor sonata

[@bammam5988]

For those of you who haven't seen a video performance of this, go find one and check out the section that starts at 14:27. Ridiculously difficult

[@nandovancreij]

realistically its just scales but ya looks pretty flashy

[@chwu04-ne2df]

That section is actually pretty easy for me compared to the section right before with the hand-crossing jumps and the section earlier in the piece with all the jumping LH octaves.

[@Prometeur]

I agree - the “Ite su colle” part is a lot harder, as well as “Guerra, Guerra”

[@chwu04-ne2df]

@@Prometeur Exactly. The rest of the piece isn't too bad, but these two sections are just pain. Maybe it's quite a bit easier if you have huge hands and extremely good octave technique, but for me they're definitely harder than any chopin etude, most of the transcendental etudes, and anything in the b minor sonata.

[@Pedro-yc1nt]

Otra obra maestra del Gran genio de la música que fue Franz Liszt.

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Trnscripsion. de la ópera de Masaya Komei.

[@epileptiquitopark7971]

min 5:22 Liszt tried to depict in everybody's mind a very beautiful spectacular woman, musically, that is what i always have listening this masterpiece

[@tcluster1217]

My first Liszt operatic metamorphosis. I love Norma and this is a revelation. It’s wonderful to see the music too. I too wondered where Casta Diva was but I’m guessing that Liszt found it too difficult to integrate its lines into this piece. I’ll have to look at more Bolet playing Liszt. Thank you Mr. Kumar!

[@momosky6062]

Just to let know, the style in this piece is a shamed copy of Thalberg Rossini Moses transcription.

[@AndreiAnghelLiszt]

@@momosky6062 What the heck are you on about? That's like saying composers who wrote fugues after Bach copied Bach. Also Thalberg's opera fantasies are limp, pusillanimous crap in comparison to Liszt's.

[@momosky6062]

@@AndreiAnghelLiszt bro, it's your opinion. Maybe you're wrong,maybe not.

[@pomelo9518]

For me, Casta Diva is moving but for Liszt it may have been not lyrical enough to put in the piece. Casta Diva means a lot in the opera, expressing the struggle between peace and war. But the melody...

[@antonygonzalez1672]

That little section at 7:13 is so romantic and beautiful

[@r0mmm]

I you Like that, you would adore Rachmaninoffs Op. 16 No 3

[@antonygonzalez1672]

@@r0mmm did you just like your own comment?😂 also sure I’ll check it out

[@r0mmm]

@@antonygonzalez1672 yes 😂

[@antonygonzalez1672]

@@r0mmm ok so it’s his musical moment no.3 lol I love all of them I forgot it was his opus 16 I haven’t listened to them in a whileeee due to having them replay forever😂 and the no.4 is so overplayed it really lessens it I feel

[@Liam-vs9vg]

@@r0mmm thank you for the discovery !

[@СергейРахманин-б7я]

В музыке Листа такой сплав красоты и мужества с самых широких смыслах этих определений. Как жаль, что ничего подобного человечество больше не встретит...

[@kavi9391]

Поэтому это так важно понимать, уважать, любить и ценить! ЛИСТ ЖИВ!)

[@radamik]

Magnificent piece but the ending especially has such incredible grandeur.

[@cherylblum1906]

wait wait so liszt first heard the original opera then went home to transcribe this just from his memory of hearing the opera? pretty fuckin ridiculous actually

[@tteerabeats9116]

Indeed beuh

[@bitchslappedme]

Your sentence is ridiculous, that you think Liszt listened to a 2 hour opera one time, but remembered 7 arias, melodies, rhythms, harmonies, the personality of the characters etc etc just from listening one time. Liszt obviously watched the opera a couple of times and thought"I like this opera and I think I can make money from an arrangement" then bought the music sheet and started working. Also Norma was performed for the first time in 1831, Liszt composed the arrangement in 1841, meaning it had been a very popular opera for 10 years, Liszt had heard certainly heard it tons of times. Let's not forget opera was much much much more popular than instrumental works, the opposite of today

[@andantino5558]

Why nobody quote the 8:44 - 9:05 part?

[@kwongscofield4306]

Definitely one of the tops of the romanticism

[@gerardbegni2806]

This Liszt's hyperbolic style, which one may love or hate, is in sharp contrast with the transcciption that Chopin wrote from the famous aria with chorus 'Casta Diva'. Just as Liszt was, Chopin was a great virtuoso (however less eccentric), but his transcription of the music of his dear friend Bellini is quite simple and can be honestly played by a good amateur.

[@gergelykiss]

Transcription is transcription, fantasy is fantasy. :) The sharp contrast is as much in the genre as it is in the composer. Liszt wrote plenty of "simple" transcriptions: many of his transcriptions of Beethoven, Schubert, Rossini, Mendelssohn, Franz, the Schumanns, Berlioz, Wagner etc are straightforward and can be performed by good amateurs. Fantasies have a thoroughly different aim to transcriptions, a classic case of apples and oranges.

[@gerardbegni2806]

@@gergelykiss In my opinion, things are more in between. Consider for instanc the wonderful transcrpotion of the 'Isolde Liebestod', one of the greatest Liszt's score in mly opinion. Wagner's orv chestra writing is very dense, and Liszt cannot transcrpibe it without finding pianistice equivalents, which are of a great virtuosity. This is for sure whet you classify as 'transcrpiptions', but is nevertheless a highly virtuoso piece, even in the very beginnig, with the hree trombones, the celli divided in 4 parts, and the bass clarinet.. Liszt cannot transcribe that without using quite touchy legatissimo tremolos. Look at the score, for instance on IMSLP.

[@gergelykiss]

@@gerardbegni2806 Yes, many of Liszt's transcriptions are very demanding, like the Liebestod or the Tannhäuser ouverture or the Symphonie fantastique. But many others are playable for good amateurs like many of his Schubert or Beethoven settings or his Chopin Polish Songs transcriptions. But regardless of their difficulty they are all transcriptions and they serve very different purposes to fantasies. There are many "simple" and playable transcriptions by Liszt, as well as straightforward but extremely difficult ones. My points were that A: one doesn't need to go to Chopin to find a simple, easy transcription - there are plenty of those from Liszt as well, and B: the current piece is not a transcription, so it might not be fruitful to compare it to one.

[@treesny]

@@gergelykiss Excellently put. And one might add his wonderful Verdi paraphrases, again a slightly different genre, somewhere between a transcription and a fantasy. Liszt did an incredible amount to promote the music of his time (and just before it); his Schubert song transcriptions in particular played a big part in popularizing that composer's music beyond Vienna. Great generosity as well as great genius!

[@wandahelenagorecka-fichten9258]

Przepiękne pełne ekspresji wykonanie utworu Liszta na temat Normy przez Tozera

[@GTDC-group]

3:45 to 5:02 is a best masterpiece that I listen in asiana airlines all the time. It feels like we are succeeding in future

[@qntwshvl429]

does anyone like me loves 11:22 - !!! especially the left hand

[@emp5017]

Yes, that´s my favorite part too. I can´t stop listening to this masterpiece!

[@gergelykiss]

Absolutely! Reminds me a bit of the cascading left hand octaves towards the end of Vallée d'Obermann. Breathtaking! :)

[@leelemery5567]

14:27- Definitely wonder what that ossia sounds like :P

[@gcw6444]

not as full....

[@gergelykiss]

I think the "piú facile" descriptor means that that is the easier version.

[@calebhu6383]

@@gergelykiss It is indeed much easier, none of that awkward hands crossing crap.

[@baghirovali2361]

7:13 really breathtaking

[@Schubertd960]

4:19 Sounds VERY like Liszt's Allegro Martiale Tema section he wrote for Hexameron

[@djnka0]

how strictly do performers adhere to the “senza Ped.” at 4:19? I hear more pedal than indicated, but as I’m learning this piece myself, having absolutely no pedal makes the phrases more choppy

[@younghokim1994]

yeah performers definitely do pedal here. this piece is wildly difficult... how are you managing?

[@djnka0]

Solo YH it’s a beast, but after learning the Dante sonata a few months ago, it’s not as intimidating...and skirting around that non-pedal marking will definitely help during that section

[@suremate]

Donte Allen There are no pedal markings in my Dover edition. This looks like the Peters, I’m not convinced the pedal markings come from Liszt. For what it’s worth, I don’t tend to follow composers’ pedal markings anyway (e.g. third movement of the Waldstein).

[@vnwa7390]

It really doesn't matter; improvisatory or quirky qualities were nearly a must back in Liszt's day. Having performed Liszt's "Lucrezia Borgia" transcription and worked on this, I can safely enough say that this piece is quite quite doable. Liszt is also much nicer than composers such as the late romantic school of Alkan, Mereaux; Ravel, Godovski, Szimanovski, or any of those 20th century tormentors.

[@tackontitan]

Tozer is a beast of a pianist but I can't help but marvel at how Leslie Howard recorded a 99 disc collection of all of Liszt's piano music including this and all the other Reminiscences. Just wow!

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Very true. Leslie Howard is an amazing Liszt historian on top of being a fantastic pianist

[@tomowenpianochannel]

Leslie Howard achieved what no one else is likely to... also as a top class pianist, and a scholar. His 99-disc set should find a place in every serious library in the world, from Washington to Brasilia, from Paris to Moscow, Cairo to Mumbai, Beijing to Jakarta. And this is because Liszt represents the whole of piano music (from Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, through to anticipations of Debussy and Prokofiev), the whole of the 19th century, and is also superb and exciting to hear and to play as a pianist. There are few other composers as accessible to the ear, and as satisfying to master when you have got your eyes and fingers around the text.

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

Congratulations on 100K subscribers!

[@giannidifrischia3374]

Geoffrey was an incredible Master, too young to die, he was able to play practically everythin. From Bach to Gershwin, passin by Medtner 'n Bartók. And for many interpretations he's really second to none.

[@lunar.6091]

The ending gets me every time

[@internetuser6370]

How can i buy a lossless format of this magnificent interpretation?

[@connorwinterspianotutorial9253]

Buy the CD and rip it to flac or wav

[@ms-dosguy6630]

use a youtube to mp3 converter, then store the file by whatever means you wish ( cd, phone, computer, flash drive etc )

[@anthonycolucci5421]

Greatest pianst.Monumental superiority regarding complexity and technical brillance.Was he really human! or something we are not allowed to understand!

[@artje123]

Wow very great recording. Rediscovered this piece for myself after listening to a new recording by Deutsche Gramophone / Giuseppe Albanese . I remember Mr Tozer though from some old Chandos / Medtner recordings. Just googled him, he passed away in 2009, too early. May he Rest In Peace. Thank you for this recording as accompanied by music score.

[@treesny]

Geoffrey Tozer's whole CD of Liszt transcriptions (from which this is taken) is certainly worth hearing, with a lovely performance of the Six Polish Songs of Chopin in particular.

[@thibomeurkens2296]

13:24 am I the only one that thinks certain parts of this section and the section at 13:42 sounds a bit like that Harry Potter movie sound?

[@MrRudvant]

Non è solo eccellenza tecnica è anche grande arte! Qui Liszt fa letteralmente esplodere il pianoforte portandolo al limite massimo della sua stupefacente espressività! I motivi inoltre sono trattati in modo geniale, con un irresistibile trasporto romantico!

[@shishirth]

A great performance

[@sgwinenoob2115]

13:40 Apassionata coda!

[@ruthsalgado6775]

HOW COME I DIDN’T NOTICE-

[@qalaphyll]

@@ruthsalgado6775 hi tuna

[@christianwon572]

My favorite opera fantasy!

[@affettozo]

Time line 0:00 part1 4:20 Alegro disco 7:54 part2 11:48 three hand Effect 13:24 part3 ----------------------- Part 0:00 part1 7:54 2 13:24 3

[@pleasecontactme4274]

how annoying such amazing pieces don't even get a million views

[@lczq6737]

Length of pieces and performances are less frequent due to difficulty

[@pleasecontactme4274]

@@lczq6737 well but Rachmaninoff's concertos getting more views. They are really hard too and length is even greater...(not that i mind it as i like his conertos myself)

[@lczq6737]

@@pleasecontactme4274 um well Liszt is generally harder than Rachmaninoff (I may be wrong) I mean they both have really tough pieces (eg Rach 3rd concerto) that make us question who is harder. All I can say actually is that (I feel) piano concertos are more well known than opera transcriptions. Also Liszt has many many other more famous pieces(la campanella)

[@lczq6737]

@@pleasecontactme4274 I mean look at most of the really famous pianists and we see that it's hard to find them play Liszt Norma or Don Juan (maybe only one or two recordings)

[@pleasecontactme4274]

@@lczq6737 well true, all i'm saying is that it's pretty messed up lol, for pieces like la campanella to be almong most popular liszt pieces

[@Dylonely42]

Thank you Bellini and Liszt.

[@DynastieArtistique]

The beginning sounded like Beethoven symphony 3 mvm. 2

[@kentario888]

7:53 is so beautiful

[@thecozytrader00]

7:06 Gorgeus, Liszt. Thanks for this heavenly theme.

[@DynastieArtistique]

WAKE UP. It’s not Liszts theme it’s Bellinis

[@dimitriskreatsoulas]

After this can you plese do the liszt polonaise no 2 by cziffra ps keep on doing good work

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Dimitris Kreatsoulas Much as I like original playing I find that on most days Cziffra's playing is a bit too much for me. Sorry about that. :(

[@dimitriskreatsoulas]

meeeh no probleme :P I just cant find on youtube a video of the polonaise with sheet Never mind thank you for answering

[@grammatikerfanatiker]

+Dimitris Kreatsoulas guess you never looked very hard. Besides, look on IMSLP or something.

[@dimitriskreatsoulas]

I know imslp i just wanted to be in a video where i dont have to move the page all the time...plus .. if u find in youtube a sheet with cziffras playing then send me .... pleeeese :P

[@JJC333]

I think this piece sounds like Beethoven would live longer about 71 years old to compose a fantasia.

[@Awesome-oh7op]

Brooooo😭😭 liszt is such a geniusss ahhh

[@미켈란젤리]

extremely difficult.

[@PieInTheSky9]

The first measure at 3:21, There is G there as the top melody note on the 4th beat, and he plays a G. This threw me off though because every single other version of this piece I've heard that note is played as a G#. Curious, I searched for other versions of it on youtube, and it seems that most play a G# there (including Brendel and Hamelin), but there are only a few that play it with the G as written. I'm wondering if maybe there's two editions of the score, or if those pianists are changing the note to resemble the actual opera? It's such a small detail, but the difference is noticeable. The G gives it more of a "Liszian" sound (chromatic resolution), but the G# sounds a bit more natural.

[@lecomtedelalune]

This is a really interesting point you make. It made me run and check my score in fear that I had made a pretty glaring error when I learned the piece. But in my edition (Dover) the note is G# and s that's what I played. Then again, Dover editions are not always reliable in my experience. I wonder what Liszt meant here - G natural certainly sounds very colourful

[@forgottenbooks2395]

The G as written definitely fits the character of the melody better.

[@chopin65]

Echoherb Wow. PICKY!

[@FatSwede]

Yes it does sound odd as G natural, but, I like it better!!

[@jasonlam8588]

It is most certainly a G natural, because the little cadenza bit in the bar after has a C natural as oppose to C sharp. It only make sense to either go both naturals or both sharps but not one of each

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Lizst trascribio la opera Norma. de Tamaya Klmei (. Autora de la opera ) divina.

[@Liszt-vj1mo]

Is this piece harder than Scarbo in Gaspard de la nuit or Rach 2? By the way, I only have small hands.

[@Liszt-vj1mo]

I really want to play it

[@chwu04-ne2df]

Depends on what you mean by small. I'm working on this piece right now and can barely hit a tenth between C and E if I stretch and play on the edges because while my hands are not big at all, I have long fingers, especially thumbs. Funnily I can't even do C to Eb without depressing D because then I need to curl my thumb which reduces my reach by a lot. Lots of uncomfortable stretches in the piece for me. I would definitely say it's harder than rach 2 but I think scarbo is a bit harder. All subjective of course.

[@Liszt-vj1mo]

@@chwu04-ne2df thanks, i think i can play this piece

[@quoiquand2888]

This is so beautiful and under rated, like why is it not that popular as other songs?

[@samthepianoman]

Cheesey Kake is is an excellent piece, and VERY under appreciated 😔

[@Liszthesis]

actually this is one of the more popular operatic transcriptions by Liszt tho

[@quoiquand2888]

@@Liszthesis I mean I was talking about it in this video, but that was an year ago and it didn't have half a million views like it does now 6 hours ago when you replied to my comment

[@Liszthesis]

@@quoiquand2888 oh

[@quoiquand2888]

@@Liszthesis yes

[@brianmcdonagh8477]

‘Please let the light that shines on me, shine on the one I love,,,,,,,’

[@szilike_10]

11:47 why is this 3 hand effect? I mean in Thalberg's Moise Fantasy I can hear the 3 separate voices but here there is just the big arpeggios and the main melody. I guess the arpeggio would normally be played with 2 hands alone but meh. Could someone explain? I'm really curious.

[@kasajizo8963]

Because it sounds like three hands are playing, even though when you look at the sheet music there are clearly only two parts. Thalberg's Moses is a better example of three hand effect because there are actually three different parts. I would say this is a pseudo-three hand effect.

[@JAndrade96]

@@kasajizo8963 Pseudo-three hand effect lol, i kinda like the term if you listen to the bass and the melody you can hear sometimes those elements are at the same time so there's the 3 hands effects Also even at this part 15:15 is not the same effect but i think is more impressed than the previous 3 hand effect

[@3hm5]

Personally I think this is the best piano piece ever written!

[@TheYouTubeCuber888]

I can play this up to 0:40

[@Santosificationable]

You must be pretty good to be able to play those first 40 seconds. :D

[@samthepianoman]

U got more skill than I do

[@hithere4289]

I dont think you can even play up to 0:19

[@matheusalves1237]

TheKZbinCuber Hahaha I would have trouble reading even this start

[@antonygonzalez1672]

Stonefish I see u every where lol

[@miguelgondi3843]

SOLMENTE A UN LISZT TIENE ESTAS REMINISCENSIAS,...MUSICA ETERNA

[@pleasecontactme4274]

I like how it's so hard to tell the best part lol (apart from the ending parts and i guess the 11:48 one too)

[@Liam-vs9vg]

So this is how perfection looks like 😮

[@abbasilly]

i just cant stop lisztening to liszt