Liszt - 'Spanish Fantasy' S.253

Indisputably the finest rendition of this piece since Pletnev + unmatched in audio quality.

Performed by a stealthy 20y/o conservatory student (ilovemariacallas on reddit)

Video recording of this:

[CamilleBraiki]

This is one of the (if not THE) most unreal recording I’ve ever heard… LDF makes this piece sound easy, flying through the most difficult passages like if it was nothing. Also, his playing is so dynamic and flexible… A-MA-ZING job !

[paulkohler]

This is the first time in my 32 years as a musician that I actually dropped my jaw... I was on the edge of my seat. This is a landmark in recorded piano performances.

[cocozeng]

To my knowledge, this is performed by Huang Yi-Chung, a 20-year-old conservatory student in Germany. He has also created several other recordings of superhuman speeds, such as Liszt Etude S140 No.4 and Alkan Le Preux. Some say he lacks musicality in his flashy pieces but I think it is very good for the speeds he plays them at, especially this piece, which the musicality is nothing short of stunning. I genuinely think his recordings are amazing and deserve more recognition!

[igo.spekkyjarvonvreich]

I believe this is exactly how Liszt heard the music when he composed it. All these textures make so much sense now. Incredible pianist!

[leithbouacida]

what an amazing piece, so many similiarities of the Spanish Rhapsody, almost like another version of the piece, like a second chapter to the same book, just under a different setting.

[platinum]

No wonder he stays stealthy. Such a performance will have everyone knocking on his door demanding autographs and concerts.
Bravo!

[benharmonics]

Part 1
0:00 theme 1 is introduced, octaves
0:33 theme 2 is introduced, glissandos
0:47 pretty passage, theme 2 is played in full
1:22 cadenza no. 1
1:32 theme 1 development
1:57 octaves
2:26 theme 3 (also used in S 254) is introduced, using theme 2 as accompaniment
2:42 theme 3 development, still using theme 2 as accompaniment
4:00 theme 3 development continues, repeated notes
4:32 theme 3 development continues
4:51 cadenza no. 2
5:07 theme 4 is introduced
5:56 part 1 coda, tricks audience into clapping

Part 2
6:32 insanely epic development of theme 1
7:35 octaves
8:01 theme 2 returns, glissandos
8:13 insanely epic march, using theme 4
8:35 theme 5 is introduced
8:52 theme 5 development, trills
9:10 theme 6 is introduced, trills continue
9:30 insanely epic march returns, chords
9:40 theme 4 is developed, thirds and sixths
9:56 theme 5 development
10:15 theme 6 development

Coda
10:45 part 1 of coda, uses theme 4, octaves
11:10 part 2 of coda, uses theme 4
11:27 part 3 of coda, uses theme 3
11:44 part 4 of coda, uses theme 4, octaves
11:58 part 5 of coda, uses theme 3, tenths
12:13 part 6 of coda, uses theme 4, octaves

[tedpiano]

If Liszt was here right now he'd probably be like "holy s***, someone actually played it the way I intended it to be played." Liszt would be very proud. Well done!

[lemonade]

Liszt was a monster when it came to advanced technique. No wonder he was the first mania. Hearing this live from him would be wonders.

[alecwilliams]

Given the technical challenges of this piece, it's easy to see why Liszt was basically the great "rock star" of his age. One can only wonder what a live performance by Liszt himself would have been like.

[markfowlermusic]

Must be up there with liszts hardest works surely? Maybe just behind some of the operatic transcriptions or ninth symphony… don’t know maybe at this tempo easily top 3. So many varied techniques needed in order to play it… highly advanced piano literature, only for the most experienced pianists.

[dimi_mono]

at 8:13 and 9:30 I started dancing. This interpretation is truly mind-blowing!

[brycehm]

9:59 casually replaces the octaves with tenths...
I can't get over how unbelievable this performance is

[cosmiuz]

It’s really hard for a common pianist to believe that this is actually true. It’s just so perfect. The tempo is inhumane but fits the piece perfectly. How? This is a revolutionary performance. It deserves the attention of all the classical music world.

[faustianliszt]

It's hard to believe that 150 years after Liszt, there still could be unprecedented performances of his pieces that will forever change their standard.
And yet, here we find ourselves listening to new talent that will undoubtedly some day be known as historically great.
Well done sir.

[FullAltOsu]

this performance is fucking ridiculous, insane pianist wow

[ronalda.saname]

Love this piece, this performance and of course Franz Liszt himself. A true genius.

[giacomoguarnieri]

Whaat?! How is this even humanly possible? My laptop was sweating just from playing the video! Jokes aside, mad respect for this astonishing, mindblowing performance!

[chaelipark]

how can I thank you enough? this is my absolute favorite piano classical pieces, (a tie with reminiscences des puritains) and ive only listened to computer-made music... this is such a masterpiece, no, ethereal. Thank you so much for sharing!

[merlinschumacher]

This might be the most epic and best piano performance I have ever seen! It seems unreal to me and I am just left in awe and are so grateful to be able to witness this virtuosity. For me personally, this is one of Liszt's most difficult pieces ever written and of all of his "warhorses" this is by far my favorite. Speechless ...