Hyperion Records

So reads the title of the separate publication of Liszt’s cadenza, which also appeared in his splendid edition of the whole concerto arranged for two pianos, in which the soloist divides the purely orchestral passages with his ‘orchestral’ partner. (Liszt made similar versions of the Fourth and Fifth Concertos, but wrote no other cadenzas.) Like Beethoven’s own cadenza to this movement, Liszt’s works runs to 65 bars, but without Beethoven’s extensive flourishes. Liszt’s cadenza remains in common time throughout and is entirely devoid of superficial figuration. Liszt adheres very closely to the original material but allows himself to modulate quite widely: A flat minor, A minor, B flat minor, B minor and C minor are all properly established in the opening sequences until the music settles in D flat major. The second subject is recalled in B major, and steps third-wise through D major and F major before C minor is comfortably restored.

from notes by Leslie Howard © 1997