Search - Idil Biret :: Liszt: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique (Piano Transcription)

Staggering

Michael Whincop | GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, QLD AUSTRALIA | 10/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Liszt's transcription of the Symphonie Fantastique is one of his "partitions" -- essentially faithful to the score, unlike his fantasies and paraphrases. Liszt's enthusiasm for Berlioz is well known, and every scintilla of that fascination is imparted in this wholly thrilling paraphrase. For an orchestral piece written with the tone colours and the amplitude that this work has, the paraphrase is little short of amazing. Idil Biret has formidable hands, and some of the artistry of her illustrious teacher, Alfred Cortot. That said, there are times when she exasperates me. Her choice of tempo can be puzzling, her phrasing uningratiating, and Naxos has often given her close, airless sound. But on this disk there are no reservations at all. She negotiates the crazy technical demands of this work with ease, and maintains her beauty of sound across a formidably wide dynamic. Her finale recaptures the barbarism and shock that the work's first audiences must have felt. This is almost certainly her finest recording, even allowing for her excellent Brahms and Chopin."

Why Biret is not a more recognized artist in the world?

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 09/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She is a wonderful artist . Hetr comiitment and special attention to the romantic mood is more than obvious . In this case , she accepted the challenge of recording the world prepmiere of the Fantastique for piano solo in Liszt {s arrangement .

I am not a hard fan of the piano transcriptions , but in this special case , the elegance and power might join with superb idiomatism and vivid presence .

The second movement and specially the third movement (A ball) is played with remarkable maestry and meticulous balance .

Biret is from Turkey and since I' ve got the lp version 0f 1979 , which sounds wilder and more irreverent than this version , it keeps the essential facets you must to know about this remarkable recording .

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