Raymond Lewenthal plays Liszt (live 1967)

[@christopherczajasager9030]

He was one of the most imaginative virtuosi in the post war years in the 🇺🇸. I met him several times,,,,he was quite an original personality too. I attended a private performance of his favorite, Alkan as well as a memorable recital in Town Hall.Thank you for presenting this magnificent Liszt recital!

[@richardharting2490]

I have seldom heard such outstanding control of the piano! Even from Horowitz. I've attended both of their recitals from 1950's , to NYC , 1960's and on. Met Lewenthal once in a NYC music store.

[@danielabloem7516]

What a terrific program! Enjoyed it tremendously! Wonderful expression! Thank you so much! Read "Franz Liszt and Saint Elisabeth"

[@jp_charland]

Nice! Thank you for this great set

[@therealtruetwelfth798]

Fantastic

[@barakjoe]

very good

[@bbyng7316]

Is he facing the Royal Albert Hall in London in this picture? It looks like it.

[@jackkennedy9120]

Actually, he plays the original 1838 version of the Paganini-Liszt etude. It's the S.140 no. 6 A-flat minor. It is way, way harder than the s.141 version. Like, almost impossible for even a lot of professional pianists.

[@dalegend5924]

Very nice but a bit unpolished, as it often is with this pianist.

[@farazhaiderpiano]

Not always, though. His performance of the Czerny-Lewenthal ètude Op. 740 is unparalleled.

[@dalegend5924]

@@farazhaiderpiano oh absolutely. His playing is very spontaneous.

[@j.ag.3537]

That's a 'live performance' spirit :)

[@bbyng7316]

​@@dalegend5924 but that's what makes it so musical. His une bord d'source here is perfect.

[@johnschlesinger2009]

He finds it so easy. I wish he hadn't: slower tempos would have been better most of the time I think. There is so much amazing playing though.

[@tizianoferenc4630]

Mephisto and Studio Paganini Liszt really awful. This happens when you want to overdo it just to impress the audience..

[@j.vonhogen9650]

I think you don't understand. This is Paganini etude is an old version of the piece that Liszt wrote when he was a young super-virtuoso pianist. It's a much more difficult version than the final one he published, which is the version everyone is playing today. To be fair, it's not Lewenthal who is trying to "impress the audience", it was the young Liszt himself. I suggest you try out this older version yourself, so you can better evaluate and perhaps appreciate Lewenthal's efforts to keep these early editions of Liszt's etudes alive, and keep them in our collective memory.

[@gaiusflaminius4861]

Who needs polish? Virtuosity and polish are parallel notions, especially Liszt, who was known for piling false notes in his performances.