“Matsuev Liszt”, the pianist’s sixth album, was recorded in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire in August 2011, which was dated to match the famous Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt’s 200th anniversary. This album includes some of the most interesting compositions by Liszt: Piano Concertos no. 1 and no. 2, “Totentanz” and the symphonic poems “Orpheus” and “Heroic elegy”.

The album was recorded with the Russian National Orchestra headed by the outstanding Russian director Michail Pletnev - People's Artist of RSFSR, laureate of 3 State awards of the Russian Federation and the Grammy Award (2005). The sound man of the album is Philipp Nedel, laureate of 2 Grammies (2002, 2009), who worked with Matuev on his latest releases, including "The Carnegie Hall Concert".

“Liszt is one of my favorite composers," says Denis Matsuev, "Each of his works is connected with a certain period in my life. For example, I won the XI International Tchaikovsky competition with Liszt, Piano Concerto no. 1. My teacher Sergey Dorensky and I decided to perform the Liszt Piano Concerto no. 1 instead of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 3 literally a few days before making the application. And it turned out to be the right decision.”

During 13 years after the victory the musician nurtured the idea of creating an album dedicated to the great Hungarian composer. Director Michail Pletnev helped Denis put this idea into practice: “We have been talking a lot with Michail Vasilyevich Pletnev about Liszt and his works. And, of course, we played Liszt together very often. That’s why I didn’t even think about another program and another orchestra: Liszt – and only with the Russian National Orchestra! And by all means with 'Orpheus,' which is a rarely played piece. I am sure that even the listeners who are familiar with this music will find out something new in it”.

In is notable that earlier, on October 22, 2011, Denis Matsuev became the only pianist who was invited to play Liszt on the festival day at the National Concert Hall in Budapest. Before the concert Denis was honored with a chance to touch the piano in the Liszt Museum that once belonged to the great musician. Along with the concert Denis held a meeting in Budapest with the students and professors of the piano faculty of the Liszt Academy and made a presentation of this, his new album.