Andrew von Oeyen presents an album of all-Liszt pieces in which he gives it his all, something that is certainly necessary for a composer as demanding as Liszt. This is evident right from the start, where the Piano Sonata in B minor explodes to full fury after a deceptively calm beginning. Von Oeyen is extremely precise here, with a crisp touch on the piano; a fierce, athletic style concludes the final movement, but the listener can come away with the impression that the pianist has rather hammered away at the music. This ...
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Andrew von Oeyen presents an album of all-Liszt pieces in which he gives it his all, something that is certainly necessary for a composer as demanding as Liszt. This is evident right from the start, where the Piano Sonata in B minor explodes to full fury after a deceptively calm beginning. Von Oeyen is extremely precise here, with a crisp touch on the piano; a fierce, athletic style concludes the final movement, but the listener can come away with the impression that the pianist has rather hammered away at the music. This issue comes up later in Valleé d'Obermann, though the hammering is tempered by legato passages in the upper register toward the end. On Waldesrauschen, there is a blooming, scintillating orchestration that alternates between the hands, giving the piece a rather Richard Strauss-like quality. It sparkles and is lovely to hear. The Verdi/Liszt Rigoletto is arguably the highlight of the album. The dark, low sounds in the left-hand give way to a tinkling, high right-hand -- a beautiful...
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