Among the Piano Classics label’s initial releases culled from the back catalogs of various independent labels, I’m especially glad to reconnect with Michel Dalberto’s two Liszt recitals originally issued by Denon. In fact, all of the Années de Pèlerinage Book II save for the three Sonetti del Petrarca also appeared under Joyce Hatto’s name (remember her?). The slow timings for the Bénédiction de Dieu dans le Solitude and the Dante Sonata result from Dalberto’s liberal rubato and wide range of tempo fluctuation, although the pianist’s organic sense of flow and ability to shape and sustain long lines makes everything cohere. The same applies to his subtle underlining of the Weinen, Klagen variations’ extraordinary chromatic tension.
At the same time, lyrical simplicity and passionate dynamism effortlessly fuse in the aforementioned Sonetti del Petrarca and the three Liebesträume (it’s nice to hear these works as a group, for the relatively unknown first two are equally worthy of their more famous brother No. 3!). Another seldom-heard work of interest is La notte, which Liszt transcribed from his Trois Odes Funebres for orchestra, and uses Il penseroso as a jumping off point. After hearing Dalberto’s big-boned, colorful performance, you won’t miss any orchestra! My only complaint concerns the sonic harshness and stridency at loud levels, a drawback that can be somewhat yet not completely tamed with a graphic equalizer. Still, Dalberto’s classy artistry deserves the highest recommendation.
