Virtuosity of Earl Wild

Earl Wild was always an exceptional virtuoso but also a showman of sorts. I think he would have been quite comfortable back in the days of Liszt, playing in the salons and impressing all of the wealthy ladies just as Liszt did. He was a music composer and transcriber of considerable talent as revealed by his transcription of the Swan Lake Pas de Quatre. Fortunately for us, Earl Wild was finally and most importantly a consummate musician of amazingly varied repertoire interests as this 2-disc album clearly demonstrates. And he never slowed down, playing his last recital in 2008 at the grand old age of 92! Now, that's some feat.Wild was known for the beautiful tone he could produce, and this album is ample evidence of such. Even more noteworthy was the presence of this tone when his fingers were flying at 90 MPH (listen to his Chopin A-flat major Polonaise). His technique was singularly astonishing and without comparison as the Liszt pieces and the d'Albert Scherzo (he played it at his Carnegie Hall recital commemorating his 85th birthday) show so well. I know of no shortcomings in the musicianship or technique of this incredible pianist. Was there anything he couldn't play???The sonics of this expertly remastered album are stunning. They and the profound musicality with which every piece is performed make this self-recommending for anyone who loves the piano!

This set of virtuoso solo piano playing contains my favorite recording of Liszt's Mephisto Waltz. Wild has created his own cadenza at the end. You just have to hear it. He also briefly does some improvisation in the Chopin Polonaise (in good taste), and it does not distract from the piece at all. It sounds completely unplanned yet falls perfectly in place with this music. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys Romantic Style piano playing in the GRAND STYLE! No pianists today can match this way of performing!

It's almost comical, the embarrassment of riches one finds on this 2-CD set. Each performance here stands as its own jewel. Each interpretation is carefully mapped out and flawlessly executed. One gets the feeling with Wild that seldom does he walk away after a performance not having done at least 99% of what he set out to do.In the difficult(although rather silly)Grand Galop Chromatique of Liszt, Wild's touch is light but solid all at the same time. Very few pianists get to the end of this piece without sounding like their hands are going to drop off from fatigue. Yet Wild never gives a sense of this.Having listened to perhaps fifty different recordings of the Mephisto Waltz #1 over the last twenty years, I still prefer Wild's. More than anyone he captures the sense of hallucinogenic sexuality that's heavily laced into this piece. Even with the brisk tempo he takes, the playing never loses its creaminess, it's seductiveness; it's dangerous allure.There's nothing more satisfying than to be able to return to favorite pieces of music throughout the years and constantly find new things about them you never discovered before. So to with these interpretations, you'll find many reasons to keep coming back again and again, to savor the superb artistry of Earl Wild.

... not glibness. That's ONE way to describe Earl Wild and his irreplaceable contributions to keyboard literature. The fingerwork is deft and sure ...and tremendously-SWIFT, when need be ... and musicianship is never "showy" nor superficial. NO wonder that so many people rate this man's legacy, so highly.

For sheer excitement, only Horowitz can beat Earl Wild. This is powerful piano playing is a very Romantic style. Perhaps not for everyone's taste, but it fits the music on these two disks perfectly.

This is a collection of extraordinary music played to perfection by one of the greatest pianists of all time. This CD won't disappoint anyone because one can't ask for more.

Generally I classify classical music not as program or absolute, but as music that pleases the listeners and music that shows off the performers.Fortunately this album has both kinds.

These two disc show what a wonderful pianist Earl Wild was. They cover a wide range of virtuoso piano works he plays with consummate ease. A terrific set for those who like romantic piano muisic