This week we come to the end of the cycle of the nine Beethoven symphonies, transcribed by Franz Liszt, and performed by Cyprien Katsaris. Beethoven's Ninth stands as one of the monumental works in all of music, and it was no simple task to reduce it for solo piano and still include every note of the original. Liszt gave up in frustration several times before finally succeeding. Neither is it easy to play, as is evidenced by the small number of pianists who have ventured to record it.
We'll also hear music from Handel and Saint-Saens, and we'll conclude with a look at both sides of Bela Bartok.
