Denes Varjon
Precipitando
(ECM New Series)
I feel as though I have been waiting for this disc for 40 years. In that time I have accumulated countless version of Liszt's B minor Piano Sonata, one of the greatest musical creations of the 19th century. I have constantly been alert to find a version that could sit proudly beside my venerated Clifford Curzon recording, but none has quite come up to the mark - until now. Denes Varjon, the Hungarian pianist, has produced an extraordinary version that is imperative for devotees of the piece. He has all the power, passion, poetry and steely virtuosity you would expect but it's the thinking that does it. Varjon introduces huge points of articulation in the structure. He is unafraid to open vast spaces between paragraphs and sections. The technique expands the epic proportions of the sonata but, crucially, doesn't slow it down or interrupt the flow. This is a monumental version of the masterpiece. Beautifully played accounts of Berg's Sonata and Janacek's In The Mists also feature.
Michael Tumelty
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