dear Lisa, I am a little overwhelmed at the moment! This piece is my goto piece when I need to find some calm place of contemplation. It will probably always remain out of my technical grasp but that is ok. I have listened to probably 40 or 50 performances of this piece over many decades (the first I heard was Garrick Ohlsson and he still remains right up there for me on this work!). But somehow, even in the first page, you brought to it such depth, beauty and meaning (also reflected in your remarks) that I was very moved. For me it's not to do with the religious context as I am an atheist, it's everything else that this piece offers the listener, should they choose to engage with it. Of course, I can also understand/feel how Liszt's spiritual beliefs are imbued in this music - but in my opinion, it transcends that. Because this work is relatively long, I think it is very challenging to retain the connection, depth, and meaning all the way through it, although Liszt does provide the contrasts in the different sections that it needs. I think it requires intense focus (technique and musicianship) to do this, and you did it so magnificently in your performance (I assume a COVID broadcast?). The melodic voicing was impeccably nuanced, the difficult passage work accompaniment (brilliantly executed) never got in the way of the actual musical lines and your finger independence in that tricky accompanying figure at the start is to be very much admired as that allowed it to be just that, and accompaniment. By the way, are you familiar with Liszt's 'Prelude' which contains some precursor music to some of this piece. I love seeing how Liszt evolved his ideas, always improving and invariably the last is always the best (e.g. the Petrarch Sonnets). Bravo - maybe I should have a look at this piece again (as I have a bit more determination now than I did in my youth) but I suspect the result will be that I return again to listening to others 🙂
This is one of the most profoundly beautiful pieces I've ever heard. Much like in mood the 3rd movement of the Schumann Fantasie. Love the commentary. This piece has been more difficult than I thought. Your idea of dividing the hands by taking notes with the left hand is really helpful. Beautiful performance! I was wondering how much time you spent getting this into your fingers? Regardless, beautifully played. People need to be exposed to this musical gem and this video helps. Best Regards.
@@LivesOfThePiano j'ai bien apprecié vos explications au debut de la vidéo, j'ai beaucoup appris. Merci :) Et vous avez raisons cette magnifique piece est jouée rarement et pourtant elle a une grande base historique!
Indeed. I use my RH for the top voice. Makes a world of a difference. Otherwise it would either be unclear or as you wrote , one could easily hurt oneself.
I wish I had seen this video before I recorded it a year ago... I am however very proud of the achievement still. This did add a layer of depth to my understanding of this masterwork. Nice to find another pianist conquering this work! Hope you can take a moment to listen to mine some day on my channel... Thank you so much...
I loooove your french pronunciation of Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude.
this is spiritual music in its purest form.. amazing
One of the best versions I’ve heard! Beautiful cantabile, not too fast, but full of inner drama.
dear Lisa, I am a little overwhelmed at the moment! This piece is my goto piece when I need to find some calm place of contemplation. It will probably always remain out of my technical grasp but that is ok. I have listened to probably 40 or 50 performances of this piece over many decades (the first I heard was Garrick Ohlsson and he still remains right up there for me on this work!). But somehow, even in the first page, you brought to it such depth, beauty and meaning (also reflected in your remarks) that I was very moved. For me it's not to do with the religious context as I am an atheist, it's everything else that this piece offers the listener, should they choose to engage with it. Of course, I can also understand/feel how Liszt's spiritual beliefs are imbued in this music - but in my opinion, it transcends that.
Because this work is relatively long, I think it is very challenging to retain the connection, depth, and meaning all the way through it, although Liszt does provide the contrasts in the different sections that it needs. I think it requires intense focus (technique and musicianship) to do this, and you did it so magnificently in your performance (I assume a COVID broadcast?). The melodic voicing was impeccably nuanced, the difficult passage work accompaniment (brilliantly executed) never got in the way of the actual musical lines and your finger independence in that tricky accompanying figure at the start is to be very much admired as that allowed it to be just that, and accompaniment.
By the way, are you familiar with Liszt's 'Prelude' which contains some precursor music to some of this piece. I love seeing how Liszt evolved his ideas, always improving and invariably the last is always the best (e.g. the Petrarch Sonnets).
Bravo - maybe I should have a look at this piece again (as I have a bit more determination now than I did in my youth) but I suspect the result will be that I return again to listening to others 🙂
This is one of the most profoundly beautiful pieces I've ever heard. Much like in mood the 3rd movement of the Schumann Fantasie. Love the commentary. This piece has been more difficult than I thought. Your idea of dividing the hands by taking notes with the left hand is really helpful. Beautiful performance!
I was wondering how much time you spent getting this into your fingers?
Regardless, beautifully played. People need to be exposed to this musical gem and this video helps. Best Regards.
I love this piece.
😀😍 You played it wonderfully!!
Do you speak French?
@@lynnauroreabigaellepierre-926 Merci, Lynn! Oui, un peu :)
@@LivesOfThePiano j'ai bien apprecié vos explications au debut de la vidéo, j'ai beaucoup appris. Merci :)
Et vous avez raisons cette magnifique piece est jouée rarement et pourtant elle a une grande base historique!
Such an amazing interpretation… ❤
2:30-3:00 Darn, I wish I could play the right hand as soft as you do!
Lukas, you too can play it softly! I take the bottom line of those arpeggios with the LH.
@@LivesOfThePiano, thanks. Maybe I’ll try that.
Absolutely fantastic video!! And yes Liszt loves those third relation harmonies--same in the D-flat consolation!!
Thank you, Matthew! Yes, the third relation is very Beethovenian. Also, F-sharp/D-flat seemed to have been L’s “spiritual” keys.
The right-hand figure at 2:32 is incredibly fatiguing to the point of risking serious injury because the hand is so widely stretched.
Indeed. I use my RH for the top voice. Makes a world of a difference. Otherwise it would either be unclear or as you wrote , one could easily hurt oneself.
The left hand can play some of those right hand notes that exceed an octave.
Incredibly executed.
Wonderful insight. Thank you
I wish I had seen this video before I recorded it a year ago... I am however very proud of the achievement still. This did add a layer of depth to my understanding of this masterwork. Nice to find another pianist conquering this work! Hope you can take a moment to listen to mine some day on my channel...
Thank you so much...
Amadi1 I enjoyed your performance very much. Always nice to see that this masterwork is being performed. Thank you for your kind comments.
thank you for this!! i love this piece a lot.
Great interpretation, it reminds me a lot of that of Arrau. Congratulations.
A comparison to be proud about! Thank you.
😍😍😍
素敵な演奏ありがと〜う・・・
心が癒されます。リストの宗教的というのはカトリックで真剣に神の存在を意識してますよね。だからかな？日本人のピアニストのプログラムでは残念ながら見たことないわ〜
Thank you! This piece is also rarely performed in the U.S. A masterpiece.
Elvis of music... I guess this comes from american biographies of Liszt.
😂