Liszt at the Opera
Louis Lortie
Chandos CHAN10793
Louis Lortie and Chandos records have put together a wonderful Juno-nominated CD of Liszt’s opera transcriptions. Lortie dazzles us with smooth, elegant virtuosity in O du mein holder abendstern (Tannhauser) and Spinnerlied aus dem Fliegenden Hollander. His scales, arpeggios and trills shimmer and sparkle with a light, feathery touch. The speed and flourish of his technique leave us breathless. The beautiful melodic lines are also performed with warm tone and sensitivity. His phrasing is sublime and his fingers sing out the arias.
What I really liked was the freedom with which he teased us with carefree cascades of orchestral sound. In the Valse de L’opera Faust de Gounod Lortie flirted with the music and the rhythms danced with devilish intricacy. His spectacular finger dexterity allows Lortie to play cleanly but with resonance. There is a natural flow that never overshadows the music but enhances it. He has immaculate control of dynamics and can perform pianissimos as gentle whispers and fortes like a full orchestra. His tone can be warm and gentle. The only minor moments of harsher tone were in two of the Wagner transcriptions. The Overture to Tannhauser and the Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde are the only pieces in which I missed an actual orchestra. However, Louis Lortie is an extraordinary Liszt interpreter who definitely deserves that Juno nomination and a win for this CD.
The program notes are also excellent. They give a real insight into the era when opera transcriptions were numerous.
