Liszt: A Faust Symphony, S108

Liszt: A Faust Symphony, S108 cover $25.00 Out of Stock
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LISZT
Liszt: A Faust Symphony, S108
Andras Molnar (tenor) Franz Liszt Academy of Music Orchestra, Hungarian State Opera Chorus, Andras Ligeti

[ Naxos / CD ]

This item is currently out of stock. It may take 6 or more weeks to obtain from when you place your order as this is a specialist product.

"There's a lot right with this performance, not least being its outspoken acknowledgement of Faust's stormy character. Liszt's first-movement portrait receives zestful advocacy, less polished than some, perhaps, but fired by immense gusto.
The recording, too, is endowed with plenty of body, while András Ligeti's vocal promptings vie with Toscanini's in La bohème! Gretchen is quite comely and Ligeti effectively traces both her darker moods and those passages associated with Faust's yearning. Mephistopheles is more angry than 'ironico' and if you want confirmation of Ligeti's Lisztian mettle, then try from 5'49" through the following minute or so: it's quite thrilling. True, woodwind pointing isn't as vivid as under, say, Leonard Bernstein, but there's certainly no lack of enthusiasm. The Orchestra of the Franz Liszt Academy gives its all and the Hungarian State Choir makes noble music of the final chorus, even though András Molnár's wobbly tenor proves to be something of a distraction. It's a compelling if flawed production, less carefully prepared than its best rivals but more spontaneous than most."
- BBC Music Magazine

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Liszt: A Faust Symphony, S108