Cerullo, Giuseppe
Piano Works Inspired By Bellini, Verdi, Weber, Dante
Franz Liszt and Sigismond Thalberg were both legendary figures of the nineteenth-century concert scene. Both acquired immense fame thanks to their exceptional virtuosity and musicality. They were asked to compete directly against each other at the Palazzo Belgiojoso, in a famous musical duel which resulted in the verdict that Thalberg was the first pianist in the world, but Liszt was unique. Operatic Fantasies were Thalbergs specialty, as they allowed him to display his expressiveness and a technique of his own creation, the "third hand"; here they are juxtaposed to one of Liszts own, thus recreating the atmosphere of that unforgettable duel. The album also comprises one of Liszts masterpieces, the "Dante" Fantasia quasi una Sonata, whereby his compositional genius is clearly demonstrated.