Liszt - Organ Works | United Classics T2CD2013022

Liszt - Organ Works

Label: United Classics

Cat No: T2CD2013022

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Instrumental

Release Date: 3rd February 2014

Contents

About

The organ was very important for Franz Liszt (1811-1886). In the years that he travelled around Europe as the most feted concert pianist of his time, it is known from first-hand reports that he gave improvisations on church organs. And in his compositions for the organ - as in all his other works - he opened up new avenues which were followed by succeeding generations of organ composers.

Yet Liszt was never a professional organist. He began to compose for the organ in 1848, when he exchanged his life as a travelling virtuoso for a position as Hofkapellmeister in Weimar, Germany. It was around then that Friedrich Ladegast built a new organ for the cathedral in Merseburg. That was inaugurated in 1855 by Alexander Winterberger, who used it to give the premiere of Liszt's Ad nos. As preparation, Liszt went to Merseburg so that Winterberger could expose him to the new world of sound made possible with this German romantic organ. The result was a new edition of the Ad nos, complete with instructions for the registration, adapted to the Ladegast organ.

The well-known critic, Franz Brendel, wrote enthusiastically: "Nowadays, Liszt occupies the same position with respect to the organ as he previously had with respect to the piano. His way of playing the piano was peculiarly his own, and now he has learned to let the full splendor and glory of the organ be heard."

In the years that followed, Winterberger became the most important ambassador for Liszt's organ works. He played them wherever he performed, as far away as in the Netherlands.

This wonderful brand new recording with Jetty Podt is a great addition to the Liszt discography.

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