Lazar Berman | 1987 | Live Liszt: Three Pieces

How I wish Berman had played La Notte. His huge sonority helps make Il pensieroso here unusually evocative, but I do miss the heavenly mid-section Liszt introduced in its revision - with the Hungarian cadences. Otherwise Berman points the way here, but doesn’t quite take you there in either piece, if I can decide. But Sposalizio especially, with the loving and so earnestly given pledge, and subsequent flower rain over Raphael’s bridal couple (06:30) - how beautiful isn’t this in Berman’s hands. Be gentle with the piano tuner. Monet wasn’t understood in his time either. Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage II (Italie), 00:00 - 1. Sposalizio 08:12 - 2. Il Pensieroso 12:25 - 5. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca Lazar Berman, piano Source: Radio Broadcast ----------------------- Berman’s pages: