Liszt: Faust Symphony, Dante Symphony

This new installment of Liszt's (1811-1886) Complete Works for piano duet presents the transcription of three towering orchestral works: the Faust Symphony and Dante Symphony, as well as Beethoven's monumental 9-th symphony. The Faust and Dante symphonies count among Liszt's most original and groundbreaking works, in which he gave evidence of his most personal beliefs and philosophies. In the two-piano versions of his own symphonies as well as his extraordinary transcription of Beethoven's 9th Liszt remains utterly faithful to the originals, while he manages the occasional reconception of the notation to preserve the spirit and sound of the orchestral scores without compromising the texts and, in the case of Beethoven's 9th, being scrupulously attentive to his hero's great masterpiece. Leslie Howard recorded the complete piano works by Liszt for Hyperion, a singular achievement, and a still unparalleled monument. With Italian pianist Mattia Ometto he records Liszt's complete works for piano duet. Their recording of the 12 Symphonic Poems BC 95748) received rave reviews from the international press. Mattia Ometto is presently engaged in a highly successful recording project of piano works by Nikolai Medtner, the issue with the "Forgotten Melodies" (PCL 1223) received several 5-star reviews.