Great Recordings You've Never Heard Of: The Liszt/Saint-Saëns Danse macabre

Liszt: Danse macabre (Saint-Saëns), Nuages gris, Unstern: sinistre, disastro, Réminiscences des Huguenots, La lugubre gondola I and II, Impromptu, Totentanz (version for solo piano). Arnaldo Cohen (piano). Naxos [Liszt Complete Piano Music, Volume 1]

[@JEduardoDElboux]

Arnaldo Cohen is really a great pianist!! His interpretation of Liszt both piano concertos and Totentanz with OSESP/ John Neschling are equally superb!!

[@mthompson0977]

I've had this recording for years and it's really wonderful ! Great recommendation

[@ArgonautasMPB]

I've heard this one. And also the 2 Piano Concerto & Totentanz with Cohen, OSESP, Neachling. Fantastic!

[@renatonavajas6941]

David, you're right. Arnaldo Cohen is a superb pianist and Liszt is among his specialties. He also recorded the Liszt piano concertos and this is another amazing recording. I had the opportunity to listen him in Brazil many years ago, when he played a Beethoven concerto.

[@mikepolioudakis775]

I am a beginner. But I found the Naxos Liszt series. I was up to about 25 disks. In my humble judgement, the whole series is wonderful and well worth the price. I have little basis for comparison but, from what I have heard, each individual disk and performer holds up against rivals. The particular performers are well suited to the selection of Liszt that they do. When you get to the spiritual material, it will make better sense of Liszt, and it is worth listening to several times. I like Liszt and I really like this series. But the same things that make Liszt so much fun in short doses can make Liszt wear in long doses. Even the spiritual music. Just a warning. As you played the excerpt, it all came back to me. Wow Liszt can be fun, and the pianist did a wonderful job. Thanks. Mike

[@xrrsss]

I have to say Dave, this already has been one of you best series ever!! Thanks for the video.

[@MofosOfMetal]

I love this album! it was actually one of my first Liszt CDs. What a strange selection of works to begin the Naxos Liszt series! but it works so well.

[@bloodgrss]

I certainly agree with this! I had the privilege to meet and hear Cohen at Indiana University some time ago, a gracious man and a great pianist. It's ironic, Liszt was unequaled as a transcriptionist, yet in a letter Mendelsohn felt that was why he was not the greatest artist because he was not that original and was taking advantage of others' compositional art! In that vein, he lauded Chopin instead. Of course, this was before Liszt really started composing for himself, by which time Felix was dead...

[@marlenemeldrum7382]

GOOOOOOD GRIEF!!! WHAT A TRANSCRIPTIO!!! Just brilliantly played....indeed amazing!!! Thank you so much Dave!!!

[@stevemd8947]

Liszt produced 3000 plus compositions. The Liszt/Cohen disc is wonderful. I have owned this disc since the day it was released.

[@stangibell4274]

I cannot remember how or when I acquired this disc. Maybe Musical Heritage Society or Tower (RIP). Liszt has been among my favorite composers for decades. I agree this is worth hearing and owning. It's a Halloween special and/or when you're in the mood to be blown away.

[@johnlewis6787]

I have had this disc from when it was issued, and I love it.

[@user-et8mh2ki1c]

Thank you so much, Dave. I love the demonic Liszt (in fact, I had an Earl Wild album with that very title), and I cant wait to get my hands on this and hear it all. Wesley

[@robertdandre94101]

I really like Franz Liszt's fantasia for piano and orchestra on motives from Beethoven's Ruins of Athens op 113....we have the choice between Jerome Rose or Louis Lortie a little less well recorded and of course Leslie Howard, moreover whether it's Ruins of Athens or King Stephen op 117 these are two works to know, because unfortunately rather neglected

[@johnwaring6443]

Jeno Jando recorded the Ruins of Athens Fantasy on the Laser Light label with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra under Andras Ligeti.

[@brianthomas2434]

Have a problem, Dave: Do I start buying individual discs, or wait for a "complete " box probably five years or more down the line? I'm already 70 and there are no guarantees. Worse, Naxos isn't the budget label it started out as. I have the Howard set, I'll look up this transcription.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'd go for downloads or streaming if you don't want to buy single discs.

[@bbailey7818]

One small detail, the Ad nos, ad salutatem fantasy for organ is actually based on Le Prophete, not Huguenots.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I knew it was one of those--I never remember which one. Thanks.

[@Andrew_from_Oz_Vinyl_Landscape]

Hi Dave thx for your info on this disc , have u heard the concept that Liszt and Beethoven are played 2x faster than intended due to confusion about how metronome markings are interpreted today compare with 1800 to 1870?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, and it's the stupidest thing imaginable, for about a billion good reasons.

[@mgconlan]

I hate to do this to you, but the "Ad nos" Fantasy and Fugue is not based on a theme from Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots." It's from Meyerbeer's next opera, "Le Prophète."

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I know. I never get that right. It's already been mentioned.