Wagner Without Words / Llyr Williams

$20.99
Label
Signum Classics
Release Date
September 9, 2014
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      WAGNER LISZT GOULD
    • PERFORMER
      Llyr Williams
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      September 09, 2014
    • UPC
      635212038826
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      SIGCD388
    • LABEL
      Signum Classics
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. No. 1. Einzug der Gaste auf Wartburg

      Composer: Franz Liszt

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    2. Fantasia in F-Sharp Minor

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    3. Wagner - Spinnerlied aus dem Fliegenden Holländer, S440/R273

      Composer: Franz Liszt

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    4. Albumblatt in E Major

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    5. No. 2. Elsas Brautzug zum Munster

      Composer: Franz Liszt

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    6. Zuricher Vielliebchen-Walzer in E-Flat Major

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    7. Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods): Prologue: Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt (Siegfried's Rhine Journey) (arr. G. Gould and L. Williams for piano 4 hands)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    8. Wagner - Isoldes Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, S447/R280

      Composer: Franz Liszt

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    9. Transformation Music

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    10. Parsifal and the Flower Maidens

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    11. Good Friday Music

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    12. Albumblatt in C Major, "In das Album der Furstin Metternich"

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    13. Wagner - Phantasiestuck uber Motive aus Rienzi Santo Spirito cavaliere, S439/R272

      Composer: Franz Liszt

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    14. Sonate fur das album von Frau M.W. (Sonata for Mathilde Wesendonck)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    15. Wagner - Walhall aus der Ring des Nibelungen, S449/R282

      Composer: Franz Liszt

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    16. Albumblatt in E-Flat Major

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams

    17. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg): Act I: Prelude (arr. G. Gould and L. Williams for piano)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Performer: Llŷr Williams


Pianist Llyr Williams explores Wagner’s rich and evocative sound-world from a less well-known angle. Featuring insightful arrangements of Richard Wagner’s operas by Franz Liszt and Glenn Gould (as well as Williams’ own arrangement of music from 'Parsifal'), at the center of the program is a selection of Wagner’s own piano pieces – many of which were written earlier in his compositional career, hinting at the grand operatic masterworks which were yet to come.

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"Liszt’s transcriptions and fantasies on excerpts from Wagner operas are ingenious works that take you inside the music without the distractions, in a sense, of the orchestra and the voices, or 'Wagner Without Words,' to quote the title of this rewarding album by the splendid Welsh pianist Llyr Williams. Here he plays Liszt’s transcriptions ranging from the short, charming “Spinning Chorus” (from “The Flying Dutchman”) to the mesmerizing “Liebestod” (from “Tristan und Isolde”). Mr. Williams offers several of his own ambitious and impressive transcriptions, including his extended scenes from “Parsifal” and his tweaked version of Glenn Gould’s take on the Prelude to “Die Meistersinger.” There are also some piano pieces by Wagner, including a youthful 26-minute fantasy, a fascinating, if not great, work: you hear the 19-year-old Wagner beholden both to Beethoven and bel canto opera." – Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times