The piano pieces Franz Liszt composed in his final decade are both secular and sacred with a startling originality that is far removed from the virtuoso character of his earlier works. Weihnachtsbaum is an all-embracing impression of Christmas that includes traditional carols alongside childhood and adult views of the season. The dark chromaticism of Die Trauergondel II is a tribute to Wagner, contrasting with the brighter range and yearning lyrical lines of the Wiegenlied. Many of these works remained unpublished in Liszt’s lifetime, and are genuine rarities even today.

This is Vol.63 of our Liszt Complete Piano Music edition, adding to the wealth of rarities already recorded in the series. Many of these works are appearing here in only their second ever commercial recording, with the only alternative being Leslie Howard’s complete edition for the Hyperion label, making this album an essential part of our Liszt edition.

Wojciech Waleczek’s contribution to our Liszt Complete Piano Music Edition was much admired by critics: ‘Waleczek is a sincere and sympathetic guide. He is sufficiently technically equipped to allow his imagination full flight. He has a strong dramatic instinct and brings a sense of proportion when Liszt grows discursive. Perhaps most importantly, Waleczek conveys an aura of rapture to this music… this disc offers sensually beautiful piano-playing’ (Gramophone on 8573773).