Liszt - Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S125; Hungarian Fantasia, S123 [HL:400204]

Performed by Neill Eisenstein, piano

Accompaniment: Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Emil Kahn

Liszt transformed the whole concept of the concerto when he cast his A-major concerto in one single movement using the idea of thematic transformation. A poetical masterpiece, both serene and glitteringly exciting, which stands at the very pinnacle of Romantic piano literature. Liszt used his own Hungarian Rhapsody No. 14 as the basis for the Hungarian Fantasia, the second piece featured on this MMO release. With its triumphal themes, sparkling cadenzas, and breathtaking finale, this single-movement mini-concerto is a sparkling musical gem! A wonderful, eminently accessible piece due to its relatively short length. Includes a high-quality printed music score and a compact disc containing a complete version with soloist, in split-channel stereo (soloist on the right channel); then a second version in full stereo of the orchestral accompaniment, minus the soloist.