Liszt Piano Sonata, Mephisto Waltz No, 1, Brahms Piano Sonata No, 3, : Cechova

Jitka Cechova - Live at the Rudolfinum

Brahms: Sonata for Piano No. 3 in F minor op. 5
Liszt: Sonata for Piano in B minor S178
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Der Tanz in der Dorfschenke S514

Jitka Cechova, piano

recorded live at the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum Prague
on 31-Mar-2001 (Brahms) and on 22-Mar-2008 (Liszt)

Following the series of four CDs featuring Smetana piano works, the ebullient pianist and buttress of the highly acclaimed Smetana Trio, Jitka Cechova, decided to 'take up the gauntlet' with a live concert recording, which deprives the performer of the comfort of detailed corrections in the studio.

Owing to their sheer difficulty, Brahms’ and Liszt’s compositions are a great challenge for any renowned pianist. The third (and final) sonata created by the 20-year-old Brahms and the one and only sonata by the 42-yearold Liszt originated in the very same year. Whereas the former met with a significant response, the latter had to struggle for more than half a century to gain a firm foothold in concert programmes. Today, both of the pieces are deservedly ranked among the apexes of Romantic piano music.

In Jitka Cechova's masterful and inspired interpretation, enhanced by the splendid acoustics of Prague’s Rudolfinum, the recording is a truly fantastic experience.