Depictions: Works by Franz Liszt / Mailley-Smith
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- Sleeveless Records
- October 18, 2019
LISZT Mephisto Waltz No. 1. Liebestraum No. 3. Concert Etudes, S 145: Gnomenreigen. Concert Etudes, S 144: Il Lamento; Un Sospiro. Années de pèlerinage, Book II: Les Jeux d’eaux à la Villa D’Este. Rigoletto Paraphrase. Consolation No. 3. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 • Warren Mailley-Smith (pn) • SLEEVELESS 1005 (72:55)
In a glowing review of Mailley-Smith’s recital of Chopin favorites ( Fanfare 37:1), Jerry Dubins praised the pianist for his “technical prowess” and “poetical sensibilities.” Much the same could be said about this collection of Liszt chestnuts. True, some of the more strenuous passages (especially in Gnomenreigen and the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2) reveal a touch of stiffness, just as the inner lines of some of the thicker passages (say, in the Mephisto Waltz ) can turn slightly muddy. Then, too, there are moments when the sheer force of Mailley-Smith’s emotionalism seems ready to shatter the mood: many listeners, I suspect, will wish that he were less pushy in the climax of Liebestraum . Still, given their heart-on-the-sleeve interpretive premises, these are, for the most part, fresh and attractive readings, timbrally imaginative and rhythmically flexible. I especially enjoyed the sparkling colors of his high-octane Jeux d’eaux and the spontaneous phrasing of his Rigoletto Paraphrase , which—while not as well characterized as, say, Jerome Lowenthal’s recently rereleased reading (see 35:5)—manages to combine elegance and drama with aplomb. All in all, an up-and-coming pianist worth watching. Generally good sound, minimal notes devoted entirely to the performer.
FANFARE: Peter J. Rabinowitz
Product Description:
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Release Date: October 18, 2019
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UPC: 5065001601033
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Catalog Number: SLV1005
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Label: Sleeveless Records
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Number of Discs: 1
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Composer: Franz, Liszt
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Performer: Warren Mailley-Smith