Hyperion Records

The splendid Neue Liszt-Ausgabe provides copious information upon the rare Revive Szegedin! which is gratefully paraphrased here: Ignác Szabadi Frank (1825– after 1879) was the amateur composer of a Marche turque-hongroise which was utilised by Jules Massenet (1842–1912) as the basis for an orchestral work dedicated to Liszt and performed in Paris in June of 1879 for the benefit of the flood victims of Szeged (the town had been destroyed by the overflowing of the river Tisza in March of that year). Within a month Liszt had prepared his piano transcription, which did not appear in print until 1892. Massenet’s title was Marche héroïque de Szabady: Liszt’s French title, Marche hongroise de Szabadi, orchestrée par Massenet, makes the connection with the catastrophe plainer, but the piece itself is rather severe and quirky for something which must have been intended as a fund-raising crowd-pleaser.

from notes by Leslie Howard © 1995