Michael Ponti Franz Liszt 12 Transcendental Etudes Cincinnati 1982

[@gongcome]

A superb performance 0f the Transcendentals. Fantastic playing !!!

[@s1earle]

The best, only to be bracketed with the set of Gunnar Johansen.

[@SandroIvoBartoliofficial]

R.I.P. Maestro. We are all very grateful to you!

[@emilgilels]

Hadn't been aware he played the entire set - let alone did it in concert. Thanks for sharing this!

[@sirdicaudore]

A giant of the piano!

[@s1earle]

So many great performances from such a meek and unassuming personality...

[@arksoundtek]

azz.... grande PONTI! mi hai ricordato che ho un vinile stratosferico suo! TOTENTANZ anche

[@berlinzerberus]

ARRAU ...In the late 1990s, Ponti's performing career was ended by a stroke that left him without the use of his right hand and arm. Despite extensive rehabilitation, he has been unable to return to regular performance or recording. However, he has given exciting concerts of left-handed music. [Wiki]

[@s1earle]

I met Ponti once late 80s and he confessed that his left hand, same as most pianists, was somewhat lacking performance compared to his right hand - seems he made the apt cpmpensations after his stroke...

[@s1earle]

In his performance of the Medtner concerto, the left hand was already failing...

[@leomiller2291]

Legendary!

[@s1earle]

Compares very favourably to the rest...

[@roberthanff4354]

The same order he followed on Klavins Mod. 370 piano. The record is now quite hard to find.

[@MichaSchlechtriem]

I have it.

[@s1earle]

@@MichaSchlechtriem Can you pls upload?

[@tomjacobson9906]

What was the source of this? An LP? I would love to have it on CD.....Great performance, and very original.....

[@op106]

It's a live concert that was on a audio cassette I had and transferred to KZbin. There is a CD version that used to be available of Ponti playing the 12 etudes but in my Opinion it's not as good as these live concert ones I posted.

[@tomjacobson9906]

@@op106 The quality of the piano sound is extraordinarily vivid!

[@s1earle]

@@tomjacobson9906 Same as his other live performances - eg the Liszt Tannhauser and Tausig too.

[@s1earle]

The order of playing these etudes seems to be the one that Liszt used in his many concerts, also that more recently as played by Gunnar Johansen. The standard 1 - 12 numbering should always be varied upon the mood of the performer... Ponti also played another version used by Janice Weber (2nd version) as he recorded these once on an ABC broadcast.

[@alanleoneldavid1787]

Which is the order?

[@s1earle]

@@alanleoneldavid1787 As decided by the Pianist at the Performance, depending on mood and feeling for the music. After all, Liszt had to use some order for writing them on manuscript.

[@OE1FEU]

That is complete nonsense.

[@s1earle]

@@OE1FEU Sorry but it is hard to argue with, and deny facts.

[@OE1FEU]

@@s1earle Denying facts is the specialty of people who ignore fundamental musicology knowledge. The Liszt Etudes follow a clear path tonality wise, starting with C-major and continuing right around a-minor, F-Major, d-minor, B-flat major, g-minor etc. I have heard Ponti play the 12 Etudes back in 1989 and clearly his sequence selection was based on convenience in regard to his technical capabilities. No way would he have been able to deliver a somewhat acceptable Feux Follets after Mazeppa, which is why he changed the order. And I have yet to find a contemporary reliable source for Liszt playing the whole set in a recital, let alone which version and what the actual sequence of playing them was. Speculate all you want, but please come up with facts in a discussion, not silly insinuations and snides, thank you.