Liszt's Dante and Faust

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Raymond Hall

2003-07-24 02:16:26 UTC

Missing from my collection are the two Liszt symphonies. Both are on a
Double Decca with Lopez-Cobos doing the Dante, and Solti the Faust. Any
opinions on this twofer. I must admit that Solti doing the Faust is a trifle
worrying for me personally (I have never really gelled with his bull at a
gate approach), but maybe he hits it off with this work.

Any opinions on the above. I have heard that Iván Fischer is highly thought
of in both works, and Beecham has done an "historic" performance of Faust
from memory (or was it Dante). But any thoughts from Liszt fans (are there
any?) on the Double Decca would be most appreciated.

Tia.

Regards,

# http://www.users.bigpond.com/hallraylily/index.html
See You Tamara (Ozzy Osbourne)

Ray, Taree, NSW

Richard Sauer

2003-07-24 02:39:05 UTC

Permalink

A standard recommendation for the Faust Symphony is Bernstein/ BSO on DG.
I've heard Solti, and Barenboim, and good though they are, Bernstein beats
them all. LB 's performance is tremendous. The 3rd movement (Meph) is
savage, and the famous attaca after the rests will make you jump.

As for the Dante Symphony ..I like Barenboim on Teldec. He is a fine
Lisztian.. I still play his DG recording of the Liszt transcriptions..

Rich

David Hurwitz

2003-07-24 02:58:15 UTC

Permalink

Post by Raymond Hall
Missing from my collection are the two Liszt symphonies. Both are on a
Double Decca with Lopez-Cobos doing the Dante, and Solti the Faust. Any
opinions on this twofer. I must admit that Solti doing the Faust is a trifle
worrying for me personally (I have never really gelled with his bull at a
gate approach), but maybe he hits it off with this work.
Any opinions on the above. I have heard that Iván Fischer is highly thought
of in both works, and Beecham has done an "historic" performance of Faust
from memory (or was it Dante). But any thoughts from Liszt fans (are there
any?) on the Double Decca would be most appreciated.
Tia.
Regards,

Solti's Faust Symphony is actually one of his best late recordings, though the
sonics are little digitally harsh; it's not quite as fine a Bernstein, in my
opinion, but it's awfully good. I haven't heard an ideal Dante Symphony yet, but
that could easily be the work itself; Alan Watson might want to jump in here,
but I have never heard a performance of the first movement that simply goes
crazy with respect to the percussion and brass the way that I see Liszt clearly
wrote in the score, and the second movement is simply a dud. Richard suggests
Barenboim on Teldec, and that's very good, but so is Lopez-Cobos (he's even more
exciting in the first movement and you get the alternate ending). So I wouldn't
hesitate over the twofer. Another excellently done Faust Symphony worth
considering is Muti's on EMI, with gorgeous playing from Philadelphia.

Dave Hurwitz

Richard Bernas

2003-07-24 07:54:51 UTC

Permalink

That Double Decca is not bad; these are difficult works to bring off.
Lopez Cobos does a very respectable Dante, if not the "best". The
recording is excellent and I seem to remember that the LP included two
different finales. I rate the old Bolshoi/Khaikin very highly, Liszt
heard through a Tchaikovskian filter (Manfred is close, after all),
but it's not easy to come by.

Beecham's Faust Symphony is one of his "classic" recordings, like his
Scheherezade. Personally, I think everyone overrates it. Solti works
the Faust Symphony VERY hard, trying to shove it into an impressive
Wagnerian-sounding mold and keep it there. It's impressive, but you
get the message well before the first movement is over.

Bernstein/BSO is excellent, preserving a concert that virtually all
the orchestra rated very highly. I also like Masur very much. He's
light, incisive and fleet. The work is allowed to breathe and flow at
its own pace and the orchestration is never falsely inflated. It
sounds like Liszt, not pre-Wagner or pre-Bartok.

Brendan R. Wehrung

2003-07-25 02:50:19 UTC

Permalink

Post by Richard Bernas

That Double Decca is not bad; these are difficult works to bring off.
Lopez Cobos does a very respectable Dante, if not the "best". The
recording is excellent and I seem to remember that the LP included two
different finales. I rate the old Bolshoi/Khaikin very highly, Liszt
heard through a Tchaikovskian filter (Manfred is close, after all),
but it's not easy to come by.
Beecham's Faust Symphony is one of his "classic" recordings, like his
Scheherezade. Personally, I think everyone overrates it. Solti works
the Faust Symphony VERY hard, trying to shove it into an impressive
Wagnerian-sounding mold and keep it there. It's impressive, but you
get the message well before the first movement is over.
Bernstein/BSO is excellent, preserving a concert that virtually all
the orchestra rated very highly. I also like Masur very much. He's
light, incisive and fleet. The work is allowed to breathe and flow at
its own pace and the orchestration is never falsely inflated. It
sounds like Liszt, not pre-Wagner or pre-Bartok.

Nobody's mentioned Horenstein's, a recent issue of a BBC concert.
How does it rate?

Brendan
--

Sam

2003-07-24 13:02:36 UTC

Permalink

I have Solti for the Faust and Barenboim for the Dante, which includes
him playing the Dante Sonata on the piano. I find both recordings
hold my interest. There doesn't seem to be any connection between the
music for the Dante Symphony and Sonata.

On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:16:26 +1000, "Raymond Hall"

Ansermetniac

2003-07-25 05:22:46 UTC

Permalink

The Decca Website list Ansermet as the conducter of the Faust on that
double. He did record the Faust Sym. It was reportedly on CD once but not in
the US

Abbedd

Ray Hall

2003-07-25 06:12:28 UTC

Permalink

"Ansermetniac" <***@optonline.net> wrote in message news:G83Ua.130787$***@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
| The Decca Website list Ansermet as the conducter of the Faust on that
| double. He did record the Faust Sym. It was reportedly on CD once but not
in
| the US

Looking at the present cover, the Decca Double definitely indicates Solti,
and the general word from several reviews is that the CSO play
magnificently. Whether Ansermet ever conducted the CSO, I am not sure. A
French connection might be Martinon, even though Ansermet was Swiss. But I
am sure it is Solti, although maybe the one you are looking at is different.

Actually with respect to another set of works on an Australian Eloquence,
with Ansermet and his SRO, and sitting on the local shelves (Decca 467
443-2), are Pénélope - Prelude; Pelléas et Mélisande by Fauré, Chausson's
Symphony in B flat, and Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice. Any word on the Fauré
, and especially the Chausson? Suppose I should get it really. Hardly an arm
and a leg, but it is nice to know beforehand.

Tia.

Regards,

# http://www.users.bigpond.com/hallraylily/index.html
See You Tamara (Ozzy Osbourne)

Ray, Taree, NSW

Marc Perman

2003-07-25 19:08:09 UTC

Permalink

Post by Ray Hall
Actually with respect to another set of works on an Australian

Eloquence,

Post by Ray Hall
with Ansermet and his SRO, and sitting on the local shelves

(Decca 467

Post by Ray Hall
443-2), are Pénélope - Prelude; Pelléas et Mélisande by Fauré, Chausson's
Symphony in B flat, and Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice. Any word

on the Fauré

Post by Ray Hall
, and especially the Chausson? Suppose I should get it really.

Hardly an arm

Post by Ray Hall
and a leg, but it is nice to know beforehand.

Ansermet's Chausson symphony is IMO as fine a recording as exists
of the work. Note that on Japanese Decca it's coupled with his
equally great Magnard 3rd.

Marc Perman