Anyone here doing anything special for Liszt's 200th birthday? I know there are all kinds of celebrations happening around the world. Today I listened to Marc-Andre Hamelin playing Liszt's B-minor Sonata on Performance Today. Here is the link if you're interested: http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/playlist.php The performance is on Hour 2 at about 22:30. Hamelin's performance is wonderful, as expected!

Also, I hear that Lang Lang will be performing Liszt which will be broadcast in movie theaters around the globe. I know how some of us here feel about Lang Lang so I don't expect there to be much interest in this...

My teacher will be performing Liszt along with other fine performers in the city tomorrow at a special Liszt celebration. I am unable to attend, so I guess I will just play some Liszt sometime tomorrow on my own piano for my own personal audience (which is nobody...).

So....what are your plans?

Not doing anything special, though it has been on my mind. I did upload my favourite piece of Liszt to the online e-cital celebrating his bicentenary ( http://www.ecital.net/listing.php ), so at least I did something.

I am going to NOT get a hair cut.

Scott

@Andrew - that's a nice gesture!

@Scott - good idea - Maybe I look a little like Liszt with my hair. Ok, that will be my tribute....

I'm doing a little something, sorry it's a day late...

Nice program! I wish I could attend and cheer you on ... but I'm on-call this weekend.

You rock, Alexander!

No amateur pianist should leave this earth without playing at least one difficult piece by Liszt - an Etude or Rhapsody, etc. I've been trying to relearn one off and on (mostly off these days). So, I guess I've been celebrating his B-day in advance. I am still far from a decent recording...

Uh oh....I am in trouble. I've not learned either a Liszt Etude or Rhapsody.

Even if I did want to learn one of them, I would not know where to start.

No problem! Just learn either the Mephisto Waltz or his Sonata.

Oh sure....

Actually, I've heard the Sonata so many times recently that I could probably sound it out on my piano now. Except instead of playing it in 1/2 hour, it may take about three hours to get to the end....

Try Paganini study number 5, or number 3 from the "Three concert studies". If you want to explore the Transcendental Studies, the most accessible I think are the two without names, no. 2 in A minor and no. 10 in F minor. Also have a look at Hungarian Rhapsody number 5 in E minor.

Re the Transcendentals, no. 2 - seriously? That's far from easy. I'd say the most accessible are (easiest first) 3, 1, 11 and 6.

No, not too seriously, I don't know this collection so well. Probably your guess is better than mine.

Thanks for the suggestions, Alexander and Andrew. Now, if I only had more time - can you do anything about that...?