BaL 17.07.21 - Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There is the Dante Sonata.

But that isn't really a sonata - just part of Années de pèlerinage Part 2.

[Ein Heldenleben]

But that isn't really a sonata - just part of Années de pèlerinage Part 2.

Its sub-billed as Fantasia quasi Sonata isn’t it ? It’s about the same length as LVB’s Op 27 no 1 , the sonata quasi Fantasia , which is a fairly free work.The Liszt is another one of those pieces that few pianists fancy tackling live . Only heard it thus once from Pogorelich and it suited his somewhat eccentric style.I love the interlocking hands Presto section at the end - a quite incredibly clever piece of piano writing and not as hard as it sounds- unlike most of the rest of it which is a lot harder than it sounds!

[Jonathan]

Liszt wrote 4 other sonatas in his youth however all are lost. One of these he rewrote the first few bars out as an album leaf in his old age. He entitled it "Jugendsonate". There are sonata form elements in the "Duo on themes Polonaises" for violin and piano which, IIRC is titled Sonata.

[Jonathan]

Sounds like the Vox, 1958.

Thanks for that silvestrione, I will find out when it arrives in the post tomorrow and let you know.

[BBMmk2]

Thanks for that silvestrione, I will find out when it arrives in the post tomorrow and let you know.

How many versions would that make?

[gurnemanz]

Checking my CD collection, I noted that I had more versions than I remembered. All are part of boxes, ie acquired coincidentally rather than specifically.

Curzon BBC Legends live 1961
Gilels 1949, 1965 - two on same disc
Ogdon 64, EMI Icon
Krystian Zimerman 1991
Sergio Fiorentino 1997 Berlin recordings (he died the following year) - 5 stars in Guardian
Richter Livorno, live 1966
Vladimir Horowitz 1978 Golden Jubilee Recital

My newest version is from Philip Kopachevsky (born 1990), again as part of a collection, this time via an irresistibly well-priced Brilliant Classics FLAC download at Presto. (A fiver for 15 CDs' worth). The Kopachevsky Sonata alone would easily justify the price and there are many other fine recordings in there.

[Joseph K]

My newest version is from Philip Kopachevsky (born 1990), again as part of a collection, this time via an irresistibly well-priced Brilliant Classics FLAC download at Presto. (A fiver for 15 CDs' worth). The Kopachevsky Sonata alone would easily justify the price and there are many other fine recordings in there.

[Jonathan]

How many versions would that make?

Lots! I have the download that was mentioned above too...

[BBMmk2]

Lots! I have the download that was mentioned above too...

Somewhere, I know. Someone who has transcribed this for concert band!

[richardfinegold]

Out of curiosity, did Liszt write any other piano sonatas, it seems odd that such a gifted pianist should stop at one.

Robert Schumann and Chopin only wrote 4 Sonatas between them, and did Mendelssohn write any? Did the Piano Sonata fall out of favor during the Romantic era? Even Brahms, who was regarded as a bit of a Musical Reactionary who was dedicated to “old” forms such as the Symphony, only wrote his 3 in his late teens

[ahinton]

Robert Schumann and Chopin only wrote 4 Sonatas between them, and did Mendelssohn write any? Did the Piano Sonata fall out of favor during the Romantic era? Even Brahms, who was regarded as a bit of a Musical Reactionary who was dedicated to “old” forms such as the Symphony, only wrote his 3 in his late teens

If you mean piano sonatas Schumann and Chopin each wrote three!

[Edgy 2]

Robert Schumann and Chopin only wrote 4 Sonatas between them, and did Mendelssohn write any? Did the Piano Sonata fall out of favor during the Romantic era? Even Brahms, who was regarded as a bit of a Musical Reactionary who was dedicated to “old” forms such as the Symphony, only wrote his 3 in his late teens

He also wrote three and they are excellent IMVHO

[gradus]

He also wrote three and they are excellent IMVHO

Both Schumann and Chopin had 3 published piano sonatas afaik plus assorted attempts , juvenilia etc.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Robert Schumann and Chopin only wrote 4 Sonatas between them, and did Mendelssohn write any? Did the Piano Sonata fall out of favor during the Romantic era? Even Brahms, who was regarded as a bit of a Musical Reactionary who was dedicated to “old” forms such as the Symphony, only wrote his 3 in his late teens

I wonder if the thirty two Beethoven sonatas , and in particular the last very free works where Beethoven stretched the form to breaking point , meant that other composers like Schumann ,Liszt , Brahms and Chopin just felt they wanted and needed to explore new avenues. Brahms short piano works have , in my view , some of his finest music and most personal intimate expression . The Schumann Fantasie - one of the greatest works of the 19th century - dedicated to Beethoven , impossible to conceive of without him , and yet moving musical expression on. But it’s a remarkably robust form the piano sonata isn’t it with some outstanding 20th century works?

[ahinton]

The Schumann Fantasie - one of the greatest works of the 19th century - dedicated to Beethoven , impossible to conceive of without him

It's dedicated to Liszt!