Schumann - Liszt Widmung G 566 Wild Rec 1985 .wmv

Even though I was aware of Earl Wilds declining health, I still was not quite prepared to read of his death in the January 23 issue of the Los Angeles Times. The pianist died in Palm Springs California, where he spent part of each year before moving there permanently a few years ago. However, his appearances in the Los Angeles area were infrequent. I last heard him play in LA 15 years ago in a recital marking his 80th birthday. I recall that recital included a hair raising performance of Liszts Dante Sonata. The LA Times obituary refers to him as the elder statesman of American piano virtuosos who was often called the last of the great Romantic pianists.
Wild had a vast repertoire which included music from the Baroque to the 20th Century.
However, he became pigeonholed as a pianist who could only be taken seriously in virtuoso show pieces. Hopefully, his recorded legacy will eventually reverse that opinion. Wild was a master piano transcriber, a trait held in common with many other great Romantic pianists. I was fortunate to hear two of Wilds all Liszt recitals in the mid 1980s one of which was devoted to Liszt transcriptions.

I had hoped that I would be able to hear Wild play once again. We have the recordings, but its not quite the same.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Schumann
• Liszt
• Widmung
• Wild

[crbrico]

Oh my God, what an exquisite rendition of this masterpiece. It is truly outstanding. Pure emotion not technicalities.

[musicbaby756]

Sounds beautiful

[piano345]

Beautiful - an inspired Lisztian!

[mattandtrissy]

One badass pianist.....

[enrothable]

Thanks for this. A great artist.