Liszt: Transcendental Etudes & Piano Sonata

Francesco Piemontesi purposefully avoided recording Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes too early in his career. The wait has proved wise and worthwhile, especially so when judged by the countless poetic nuances and breathtaking range of colours he draws from Liszt’s fiendishly difficult showpieces. While Piemontesi lets big emotions fly, he does so without letting them spill into sentimentality. He strikes the ideal balance between heart and head in the sixth etude, “Vision”, evokes the sounds of a full symphony orchestra in “Wilde Jagd”, and touches the sublime with unwavering concentration in “Chasse neige”. Those qualities flow into his overwhelming interpretation of the Piano Sonata in B Minor, bringing fresh layers of feeling to a work that has long been part of Piemontesi’s repertoire.