Released: 20 April 2019

Reference: AP180

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Credits

Recorded by Little Tribeca in december 2017 in Prague (Czech Republic).
Piano: Bösendorfer 280VC-100
Tuning: Michael Singer

Artistic direction: Nicolas Bartholomée
Sound engineering: Nicolas Bartholomée et Clément Rousset
Editing, mixing and mastering : Clément Rousset

Awards

Sélection Le Monde
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Released: 20 April 2019

Reference: AP180

Liszt: Athanor

Performers

Composer

Description

Athanor. A mysterious name to designate, in alchemy, the long-combustion furnace that produces the philosopher’s stone. This matrix, which symbolises the quest of one who seeks to the Absolute, is a metaphor of Liszt’s approach. With the patience of the alchemist who pursues the perfection of the material, the virtuoso composer and pianist has long matured the genesis of his two Piano Concertos and of the Totentanz: in fact, more than 20 years separate the first sketches of their publication. These three major works are each crossed by a powerfull and captivating leading theme, and driven by a logic of transformation: the Totentanz uses the theme and variations form while the concertos are unifyed by a unique theme that nourishes the whole musical flow through its metamorphoses. Pianist Beatrice Berrut, who was already venturing on the Lisztian paths in her previous record, testifies here to the infinite invention of the composer: she performs the first Concerto with its last variants noted by Liszt himself on the copy of his pupil Hans von Bülow.

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In the press

Le programme est un condensé de la galaxie lisztienne et la pianiste une incarnation des principales figures de l’Olympe. De la Diane chasseresse qui ne rate aucune cible expressive avec son arc Bösendorfer au Mercure insaisissable qui s’élève de doigts virtuoses.
Pierre Gervasoni - Le Monde

Héritière de la tradition russe, la pianiste suisse Beatrice Berrut possède une technique diabolique unie à un souffle épique et un sens évident de la narration.
Cadences

Tracklist

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
1. Totentanz. Paraphrase on Dies irae pour piano et orchestre, S.126

Piano Concerto no.1 in E-flat major, S.124
2. Allegro maestoso
3. Quasi adagio
4. Allegretto vivace – Allegro animato
5. Allegro marziale animato

Piano Concerto no.2 in A major, S.125
6. Adagio sostenuto assai – Allegro agitato assai – Un poco più mosso – Tempo del andante
7. Allegro moderato
8. Allegro deciso – Marziale un poco meno allegro – Un poco meno mosso
9. Allegro animato


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