A long time has passed since I wrote about this amazing pianist. Now is a great time to correct this, because is has completed a new recording:
Transcendental: Daniil Trifonov plays Franz Liszt
Liszt:
Transcendental Studies, S139 Nos. 1-12
Two Concert Studies, S145/R6: Gnomenreigen; Waldesrauschen
Three Concert Studies, S144/R5: Un lamento; La leggierezza; Un sospiro
Grandes Études de Paganini (6), S. 141
Performed by Daniil Trifonov (piano)
Daniil Trifonov has been described by The Times as “the finest young pianist of our age”.
After his successful “Rachmaninov Variations” last year, he has now created another statement to define his extraordinary and growing legacy. It is dedicated to the greatest pianist of his own century: Franz Liszt.
The repertoire is Liszt’s Complete Concert Etudes. These Etudes remain amongst the most challenging piano pieces ever composed – and are rarely recorded or performed. This is the first time that the Complete Liszt Etudes have been recorded as a whole for DG. And Daniil Trifonov is one of the few pianists to have recorded them all in one go – in an unbelievable five days.
Beyond his phenomenal technique, Daniil Trifonov is a distinctly Russian artist: an intense, soulful musician in the great Russian tradition whose presentation and repertoire set him apart from all other young piano stars of today.
The Gurdian wrote in September, 2016:
“Trifonov is already an exceptionally thoughtful interpreter, with musicianship that more than matches his technical gifts…while there is never any doubting the brilliance of Trifonov’s playing, that is only the starting point; the delicacy and transparency of his performances are often more striking than their moments of rampaging virtuosity.”
Here is Daniil Trifonov in Liszt’s La Campanella:
