Christmas chez Liszt, imagined by one of the UK’s most exciting piano virtuosos.
Composed and compiled by Liszt between 1873 and 1881, the ‘Christmas Tree’ suite has more to offer than carol transcriptions and twinkly sketches of festive joy. It begins with one of the composer’s typically free transcriptions of a plainsong Christmas hymn harmonised in the 17th century by Michael Praetorius, and takes in the procession of the Magi towards Bethlehem and a lullaby at the cradle, but also cuts away to contemporary times with a sparkling scherzo to depict the lighting of candles on the tree.
The last four of the suite’s twelve movements bear only tenuous connections to the festive season, yet they bring some of the most memorable inspirations of all: evocations of evening bells, of ‘Yesteryear’ in the composer’s searching late style, and then Hungarian- and Polish-themed themed pieces.
As Mark Viner remarks in his detailed booklet introduction to the album, there is nothing quite like Weihnachtsbaum even in Liszt’s own prodigiously varied catalogue. It is impossible to categorise, and yet every bar sounds uniquely Lisztian.
Perhaps even less familiar to most listeners, on account not least of its sheer scale, is the vast three-part oratorio which Liszt based on the life of Christ.
Liszt made solo-piano transcriptions of two Christmas-themed orchestral movements from the oratorio’s first part, picturing in turn the Shepherds at the Manger and, once more, the ‘march’ of the Magi. In complement, Mark Viner presents the composer’s pianistic translation of the ancient carol Christus natus est. Mark Viner’s recordings for Piano Classics have attracted international acclaim.
‘The melodies in his hands are not simply played, they are sung on the piano!’ (Fanfare, reviewing a previous Liszt album, PCL0116).
‘If Alkan could play it as Viner does here, no wonder he was the only pianist in front of whom Liszt was hesitant of playing.’ (Gramophone, reviewing Viner’s latest volume in his Alkan cycle, PCL10275).
Weihnachtsbaum (English: Christmas Tree) is a suite of 12 pieces written by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) in 1873–76, with revisions in 1881. The suite exists in versions for solo piano and piano four-hands. It occupies an unusual place in Liszt’s output, as it does not demand great virtuosity, and it may be for this reason that it has received relatively little attention from performers.
Weihnachtsbaum is a reflection of Liszt’s late style, in which the former showman and virtuoso reverts to introspection, focusing on the essentials and experimenting with new forms and harmonies. As a bonus Mark Viner plays two movements from Christus, Liszt’s epic oratorio, in the piano transcription of the composer.
Mark Viner took the musical world by storm by his innovative concert programs and CD recordings containing rarely heard repertoire from unjustly forgotten romantic composers. His Alkan, Liszt, Thalberg, Blumenfeld and Chaminade recordings earned him 5 star reviews and Editor’s Choice from Gramophone, The Guardian, Sunday Times and International Piano. An excellent scholar as well he wrote the extensive liner notes for the booklet himself.
“from Viner’s fingers the iridescent showers of notes cascade with scintillating exuberance [...] a blazing young British talent” (Gramophone Magazine), “ […] a supple, virtuosic player who seems to turn every technical challenge into a musical asset, excelling in repertoire that few others have touched.” (International Piano Magazine).
