To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Liszt’s birth, this new format title (2 CDs + 220-page biographical booklet) explores the fascinating world of Liszt - his life and music.

Perhaps the greatest pianist who has ever lived, Liszt was one of the titanic musical figures of the Romantic age. Abandoning his spectacular career as a travelling virtuoso in his mid-thirties, this passionate lover and fond father dedicated himself instead to a life of composing, conducting, teaching and, increasingly, religious devotion, eventually taking minor orders in the Roman Catholic Church.

This biography explores an enthralling life lived for long periods in France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the composer’s native Hungary – a kaleidoscope of cultural worlds whose folk music, literature and landscapes richly coloured Liszt’s own music.

The 2 CDs feature music spanning Liszt’s career.

Contents:
CD 1
- Ouverture de l’opéra Guillaume Tell (S552/R237)
Kemal Gekič (piano)

- Lieder von Schubert (S558/R243 Auf dem Wasser zu singen)
Oxana Yablonskaya (piano)

- Ave Maria (S20/R496a)
Choir of Radio Svizzera, Lugano; Paolo Crivellaro (organ) / Diego Fasolis

- Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C sharp minor
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Années de pèlerinage, première année: Suisse
No.4: Au bord d’une source
No.9: Les Cloches de Genève
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année: Italie (S161/R10b)
No.1: Sposalizio
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Étude en douze exercices (S136/R1)
No.4 in D minor: Allegro grazioso
William Wolfram (piano)

- Études d’exécution transcendante (S139/R2b)
No.4 in D minor: Mazeppa
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Harmonies poétiques et religieuses (S173/R14)
No.3: Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude
Philip Thomson (piano)

CD 2
- Sonata in B minor (S178/R21)
Excerpt, from beginning: Lento assai – Allegro energico
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Orpheus (S98/R415)
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Michael Halász

- Rigoletto: Paraphrase de concert (S434/R267)
Alexandre Dossin (piano)

- Two Legends (S175/R17)
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Urbi et orbi, bénédiction papale (S184/R69)
Philip Thomson (piano)

- Via crucis (S53/R534) excerpts
1. Vexilla regis prodeunt (Andante maestoso)
2. Station I: Jesus is condemned to death
3. Station II: Jesus takes up his cross
4. Station III: Jesus falls for the first time
5. Station IV: Jesus greets his holy mother
Choir of Radio Svizzera, Lugano / Diego Fasolis

- In festo transfigurationis Domini nostri Jesu Christi (S188/R74)
Philip Thomson (piano)

- From the Cradle to the Grave (S107/R424)
Movement 1: The Cradle
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Michael Halász

- Hungarian Rhapsody No.17 in D minor (S244/R106, No.17)
Jenő Jandó (piano)

- Nuages gris (S199/R78)
Arnaldo Cohen (piano)