Liszt's Organ Works: recommendations please!

[Ciaran]

It's decades since I bought a record of Liszt's Organ Works: an LP of Jennifer Bate at the Albert Hall Organ in about 1980. Now I need a replacement: the Penguin Guide likes Andreas Rothkopf on Naxos, I like the idea of Michael Schönheit on the Ladegast organ (on which the P & F on BACH was first performed) on MDG SACDs or Kay Johanssen on Carus.

What do you think? (Si, I'm looking at you!)

[Diapason]

When you find the answer, you can let me know...

I can't comment from personal experience, but the Haselbock recordings have been recommended to me. Caveat here is that his academic credentials are top, and that doesn't always mean top performance. Must research this myself, since there's the big Liszt anniversary this year and I'm expecting to hear quite a bit of his organ music over the summer.

[mcq]

I picked this one up recently.



A complete set played by Andras Viragh on the Hungaroton label. A deeply satisfying performance that lingers in the memory. Warmly recommended.

[Diapason]

Speaking of Liszt, Mark Duley is playing the Fantasia on BACH this Friday in the NCH at 6:30 and admission would seem to be free: http://tinyurl.com/3qsyuag

[Ciaran]

I think I've booked tickets for the Symphony Orchestra concert that evening, so I might see if I can make it in for the organ concert... and see how Mark Duley and Liszt get on with the KJ organ!

[Diapason]

I hate that organ.

[Ciaran]

In the 80s, KJ had very good PR: it seemed inconceivable that anyone else would be asked to build it. I'm not keen on it either, and it's hideous as well as everything else!

[Diapason]

I've played other Ken Jones that I've liked (including a *cracking* instrument in Tewkesbury Abbey), but I don't know what he was thinking here. Maybe it was budgetary, maybe he couldn't work with the horrible acoustic, maybe maybe maybe, but the organ in the NCH is a constant disappointment to my ears.

[fergus]

Interesting discussion....I have never been at an Organ Recital in the NCH.

[Diapason]

Well, this one wouldn't be a bad place to start. The piece is central in the repertoire (despite not being very organistic) and hails from a period where organ builders were trying to find better ways of providing immediate contrasts and changes of dynamics.

Plus, the gig is mercifully short and best of all... free!