Nyregyhazi:The Opera

Wonderfull pianism and beautiful music to boot. This pianist was a different breed and the music he made and recorded are different from most--some say too different -- but I personally find his music very good. This album of his music of opera is typical of his style--not just a piano player, but an interpter and pilot of the keyboard. He probably never played the same piece twice the same way. If you can listen to the LPs( and I happen to have the 2 LP set from Columbia ), the music from Listz on that LP is out of this world and I have never heard such piano music making. I say music making because that is what it is, music making, not just music playing. The same inspiration and spirit can be found in these opera works. It certainly helps to have some introduction to this man's style and background before you hear the opera CD. I rate it very high ( 4 to 4 1/2 stars) and only wish there was more of this music.

Ervin Nyiregyhazi (1903-1987) was one of the rare pianists who could hold an audience in his spell. Unfortunately, the CBS Masterworks recordings from around 1976 are a little eccentric for most of our faint-hearted listeners, who like obvious musical choices that are cliched and somewhat boring. Nevertheless, while these present recordings of transcriptions by the controversial pianist are occasionally bizarre and wilful, there is a magnificent feeling of chance-taking that is rare among recorded artists today. Listen to the extraordinarily pellucid tone in the Wagner excerpts, and the overwhelming power and majesty of some of the pianism in the Verdi Trovatore excerpt. The Tschaikowsky is also colossal in scale, the Lensky theme never sounding more beautiful or monumental. If only there were more recordings of this man, perhaps we could have a clearer idea of his talent. But alas, we only have a few hours of recorded bits, and almost none of it is well-known repertoire. Still, if Sony has some sense of history, perhaps they can release the 1970s albums once again onto CD, as well as some unreleased material. (There is sure to be more of this!) But now we must content ourselves with this fascinating, yet flawed, aural experience from a dissolute, dipsomaniacal diva of the keyboard.

Nyiregyhazi has rightfully been called Franz Liszt reincarnated. Here we finally get to hear again his legendary piano style (he was considered the greatest pianist of the early part of this century when he left the concert stage and disappeared) with absolutely haunting compositions of his own versions of some very popular pieces of music. He is a very fine composer, indeed, and we can only hope for more recordings by this master. This recording is an absolute must for piano lovers, Liszt lovers, music lovers and just a real treat.