MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Liszt: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 / Les Preludes / etc

"Berman's infallible octaves at the opening of the First Concerto is every bit as thundering as Richter, and the cadenza is a perfect blend of forcefulness and flashiness. Slow, meditative episodes feature little rhetorical inflection, but are always elegantly phrased. Berman's control of the octave sonority in lyrical sentences is remarkable for its precision and meshes well with the poetic air. Unlike many, Berman does not rush to build up the climax before the scherzo, but adrenaline certainly rushes as the octaves shoot out. Notwithstanding the moderate tempo, Berman manages to sound lean and athletic in the scherzo (just as it should be) by the sheer crispness of his touch. The statement of the motif over bass trills strikes me as particularly musical: rather than the usual bombastic treatment, Berman keeps it quietly ominous - much in accord with the building line of the paragraph." TopEar