Liszt for orchestra

Classics Today 10/10.

This album features four symphonic poems by Franz Liszt, performed by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. The pieces—"Les préludes," "Orpheus," "Tasso: Lamento e trionfo," and "Festklänge"—exemplify Liszt's innovation in transforming traditional overtures into single-movement orchestral works that convey rich, narrative musical stories. Liszt's compositions reflect his desire to blend musical structure with poetic themes, marking a significant development in the symphonic genre and showcasing his shift from virtuosic pianist to pioneering composer.