George-Emmanuel Lazaridis - Liszt: Sonata in B Minor & Grandes Etudes de Paganini (2006) [SACD]

Franz Liszt was the first composer to attempt a piano sonata that was encapsulated in one long, continuous movement. The B minor sonata typically entails more than 30 minutes of non-stop music-making. This obviously presents unique problems for the soloist, not the least of which is sheer endurance. Not only does the pianist get no breaks during a performance, but the listener must also maintain attention for a protracted duration. It is therefore up to the performer to capture and maintain the listener's involvement in the music. Young pianist George-Emmanuel Lazaridis accomplishes just that feat in this recording of the grand sonata. At no point does his performance have the appearance of mechanistic technique. Rather, Lazaridis truly brings a remarkable sense of musicianship and understanding directly to the listener. His nuance with tempo clearly delineates different sections of the sonata and his touch ranges broadly from the most intimate and gentle to the ferocious and diabolical. The Grand Etudes give Lazaridis even more opportunity to show off his impressively ample technique. Although these seven works are indeed etudes, Lazaridis nonetheless infuses them with beauty and musicality. Liszt fans are definitely encouraged to check out this recording and will likely hope that this young artist continues to record his virtuosic works, for which he clearly has a penchant. – Mike D. Brownell, AllMusic Guide

"…The power and ferocity of the climaxes are enough to make sure you've insured your loudspeakers and warned your neighbors! Clearly Lazaridis is no run-of-the-mill virtuoso, and we're sure to hear more from him." – www.classicstoday.com

"George-Emmanuel Lazaridis is a young, London-based Greek pianist whose Liszt recital enters a crowded, fiercely competitive field. Even so, his performance of the B Minor Sonata, one of the great milestones of keyboard literature, is of such drama, power and concentration that it holds its own even when you stop to consider timelessly celebrated recordings by Horowitz, Argerich, Brendel and Zimerman…This is hardly the playing of a novice or a performance of mere potential, it is already one of formidable eloquence and achievement, and it has been finely recorded and presented." – Bryce Morrison, Gramophone, October 2006

"…the listener is compelled along by the sheer force of Lazaridis's artistic personality. Even the notorious fugal episode is made to sound like the inevitable outcome of what has gone before. Add to that a technique to die for, cushioned by melt-in-the-mouth sonorities and a scintillating coupling, and you have a Liszt release made in heaven." – Julian Haylock, Classic FM Magazine, October 2006