Widmung (Franz Liszt)

Album review

Winner of the 2008 International Franz Liszt Competition in Utrecht, pianist Nino Gvetadze has played the music of Liszt in many recitals, and released this 2011 album in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth. The most significant work of this program is the mammoth Sonata in B minor, which occupies the last half of the disc and exudes the most imposing presence, though the Ballade No. 2 in B minor is almost as impressive and can be regarded as something of a counterweight for the first half. The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 in E minor, and Liszt's transcriptions of Robert Schumann's Liebeslied (Widmung) and Franz Schubert's Gretchen am Spinnrade provide extra-musical links to the sonata, though listeners may enjoy them simply as examples of Liszt's highly varied and colorful output. Gvetadze plays with a fine balance of delicacy and bravado, and her interpretations are perfectly tailored to the needs of each piece. The variety of Liszt's expressions are matched by her subtle use of color and accentuation, and her touch is remarkably consistent and even, for changing easily from the softest dynamics to the loudest with little apparent effort. While this is a fine album, it is short, and some might wish Gvetadze had included a few more pieces for better value. But this is a worthy contribution to the Liszt celebrations, and Gvetadze's artistic performances deserve serious attention.
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