Nelson Goerner: Liszt & Albéniz

Nelson Goerner, noted for his versatility at the keyboard, has toured with many of the world’s major orchestras – Orchestre de Paris, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie. Audiences will be wowed by his interpretation of Franz Liszt, inspired by his presentation of Isaac Albéniz, and charmed by the dance-like nature found in piano music from Hungary and Spain. These two works by Liszt are opposing sides of a coin. While Ballade no. 2 is dramatic and passionate, showing off the player’s virtuosity (which Liszt wrote to show off his own skill), Valse oubliée No.2 is more delicate, displaying the player’s personality and attention to musical choices.

“There is really nothing in Isaac Albeniz’s ”Iberia” that a good three-handed pianist could not master, given unlimited years of practice and permission to play at half tempo. But there are few pianists thus endowed.” (Donal Henahan, The New York Times)

The program continues with Iberia, Book IV, Albéniz’s collection of three piano pieces. These works drop hints to dance, are impressionistic, and overall feature the character of both instrument and performer. Both Claude Debussy and Oliver Messiaen praised this work (Albéniz’s best-known work, in fact) as a “wonder for the piano”.