Name: The Virtuosity of Earl Wild by Earl Wild
Brand: Earl Wild
SKU: 644057090128
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (196 reviews)

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Volume 1

Volume 2

From a label devoted to artful pianism comes a two-disc blockbuster of phenomenal (and tasteful) showmanship. The repertoire ranges from staples such as Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" (its cimbalom effects familiar from so many deployments in cartoon music and video games) and Chopin's A-flat "Heroic" Polonaise, to obscure bonbons from yesteryear: Eugen d'Albert's "Scherzo" raises the curtain on disc 2 with a whirlwind of notes; a Dohnanyi "Capriccioso" rings it down in a hyper-romantic fling that Dohnanyi dedicated to his first wife.

Wild has championed the obscure throughout his long career, but he is careful to choose only the best and most characteristic pieces. Time and again, he is able to project even the slightest melody through a welter of decorative notes. In pieces of pure technique--Moszkowski's flaming "Etincelles," for example--Wild demonstrates a frightening control of the digital demands. Vladimir Horowitz was said to have been an admirer of Wild's playing.

Perhaps the biggest coup here is the licensing of Wild's 1960's recordings for Reader's Digest. These nuggets represent the acme of his art, and their inclusion makes this collection indispensable for fans of the grand romantic manner.

The Virtuosity of Earl Wild

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Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 1

1. Grand galop chromatique, S. 219

2. 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: Rhapsody No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor

3. Swan Lake, Op.20a, Act 2: Dance of the Four Swans

4. 6 Concert Études, Op. 28, No. 6: Capriccio in F Minor

5. Mephisto Waltz No. 1: The Dance at the Village Inn from Lenau's Faust, S. 514

6. 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: Rhapsody No. 4 in E-Flat Major

7. Étincelles, Op. 36, No. 6

8. Scherzo à la Russe: Allegro moderato in B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1

9. 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: No. 12 in C-Sharp Minor

10. 3 marches militaires: Marche militaire in D Major, Op. 51 No. 1

11. Polonaise No. 2 in E Major, (Busoni Coda), S. 223

Volume 2

1. Scherzo in F-Sharp Major, Op. 16, No. 2

2. Circle of Songs, Op. 39: Frühlingsnacht, Op. 39, No. 12, S. 568

3. Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141: III. La campanella in G-Sharp Minor

4. Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141: II. La capricciosa in E-Flat Major

5. Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141: V. La chasse E-Flat Major

6. Polonaise in A-Flat Major, (Heroic), Op. 53

7. 12 Transcendental Études, S. 139: Étude No. 10 in F Minor, (Allegro agitato molt)

8. Song Without Words, Op. 67: IV. Spinning Song (In C Major)

9. Etudes de concert, S. 144: II. La leggierezza (F minor)

10. 12 Transcendental Études, S. 139: Étude No. 2 in A Minor, (Molt vivace)

11. Spinning Song from The Flying Dutchman, S. 440

12. Rigoletto: Paraphrase De Concert, S. 434

13. Valse Oubliée No. 1, S. 215

14. Two Concert Etudes, S. 145: II. Gnomenreigen

15. 12 Transcendental Études, S. 139: Étude No. 7 in E-Flat Major, (Eroica)

16. Two Concert Etudes, S. 145: I. Waldesrauschen

17. 6 Concert Études, Op. 2, No. 4: Capriccio in B Minor

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