Nicolas Horvath Releases FRANZ LISZT Christus Album

French pianist Nicolas Horvath is heard in his recording debut with this fascinating solo piano version of Liszt's monumental oratorio Christus. This world premiere recording retraces the Life of Christ via a series of musical frescoes in which the composer seemingly runs through the entire history of music - from Gregorian chant through Romantic virtuosity to avant-garde expressionism. "I could not begin my recording career with anything better than a world premiere by Liszt," Horvath told Piano Bleu, "I have admired the music and the life of Franz Liszt for so many years: his large generosity of spirit, a limitless curiosity ... his music was a mirror of his time." The new recording from Éditions Hortus is available from Allegro Classical on May 14.

Considered by most specialists, along with the Sonata and Faust Symphony, as the pinnacle of Liszt's art,Christus, composed from 1862-1868, is an oratorio for choir, organ and large orchestra. Describing the Life of Christ in fourteen movements, Liszt employs his immense skill and broad musical culture to give each episode its own distinctive style. This piano version presents a total of eight movements, taken from Liszt's own vocal version with the orchestral part transcribed for the piano. Three movements are recorded here for the first time: Die Gründung der Kirche (1867), Tristis est anima mea (1866) andO filii et filiæ (1868). Lasting more than one hour, the magnificent cycle ranges from the subtle counterpoint of the Opening (Einleitung) to the charm of the Birth, which uses dance motifs (Pastorale, Hirtengesang an der Krippe), the luminous jubilation of the March of the Three Kings (Die Heiligen drei Könige), and the grave and expressionist vision of the horror of Christ's last hours (Tristis est anima mea). Aided by his friend, the pianist and Liszt specialist Leslie Howard, Horvath obtained the scores of most of the movements but also made two significant discoveries: a second transcription by the composer of Die Gründung der Kirche for organ and harmonium with the piano doubling the singers and thereforeplayable as piano solo, as well as the piano version heard here for O filii et filiæ.

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