Album insights
Liszt's late piano works possess unique qualities not commonly found in the magnificent musical creations of the 19th century. His music exhibits stylistic thinning to the point of conscious sparseness, coupled with avant-garde innovation and uncompromising assessments that come with age. Much of his music's uncompromising nature led to it being dismissed for years and only published in the 20th century.
This program is focused on Liszt's remaining collections, delving into late waltzes, extensive sets like Via Crucis, Weihnachtsbaum, and the chorales, along with individual character pieces from Liszt's final creative period. Some late transcriptions, final rhapsodies, dances, and marches are yet to be released. Liszt faced harsh criticism for supposedly not differentiating between Gypsy music, café music, and professionally composed music in his earlier works with an evidently Hungarian character. Despite his deep affection for his sources, he was often condemned.
Apart from a theme from the Hungarian national anthem, the Historical Hungarian Portraits lack folk musical material. Interested readers can explore the details of these works in the annotations to the excellent New Liszt Edition. Liszt intended to compose musical tributes to seven famous Hungarian statesmen and artists of the 19th century. Each piece reflects unique characteristics and historical influences within the Hungarian culture.
"Puszta Wehmuth" appears to be based on a work by Countess Ludmilla Gizycka, which, in turn, was inspired by a poem by Lenau. Liszt's adaptation of "Ungarns Gott" for the left hand was a tribute to his pianist friend Graf Géza Zichy, showcasing Liszt's versatility in composing for a single hand. The composition history of "Troisième année de pèlerinage" differs significantly from its predecessors, highlighting Liszt's evolving style as a composer.
The remaining four pieces of this collection are elegiac, reflecting Liszt's deeper emotional explorations and personal connections to his compositions. Each elegy carries its unique story and emotional weight, resonating with Liszt's experiences and beliefs.