In 1985 Earl Wild recorded three double albums of Liszt’s music for the Dutch Etcetera label. Here is a generous cross-section of that material for those who missed it the first time around. I’m pleased to report that Ivory Classics’ remasterings reveal a more three-dimensional soundstage than before, even though the close, airless miking doesn’t always allow Wild’s singing tone, masterful pedal effects, and color shadings to congeal as they should. That said, these selections cover a broad spectrum of Liszt’s diverse piano output and make an ideal introduction to his music. More importantly, Wild never fails to channel his virtuosity toward musical ends. He declaims rather than rushes through the Dante Sonata’s myriad octave passages, and similarly takes time to orchestrate the B minor Ballade’s groaning chromatic runs in the bass. The pianist also resists the temptation to turn Funérailles’ central section into a mere octave etude, taking trouble to shape the rising right-hand chords.
Wild spent his formative years working with opera singers, and it really shows in lyrical selections like the three Petrarca Sonettos, the Third Consolation, the Chopin/Liszt song My Joys, plus the Second and Third Liebesträume. Un Sospiro is refreshingly direct and free of treacle. On the other hand, Wild seems a bit impatient to get through the Sonata’s more lyrical sentiments, such as the magical, quiet scales right before the fugue. I prefer his earlier recording (once available on a Quintessence LP) for its riper sonics and greater thrust in the heroic sections. Likewise, Wild’s 1985 Mephisto Polka seems a shade slack compared to his classic 1968 recording on The Demonic Liszt (Vanguard)–one of the all-time great Liszt recitals in phonographic history. My niggling reservations should not detract anyone from buying this set, which deserves a worthy place in any good piano library. [8/22/2001]
