I completely agree, some performances do descend into as you put it ''unabashed, narcissistic showmanship''. Brendel certainly brings admirable insight into the interior musical meaning without over inflated rhetoric, simply because his formidable technical mastery always serves the musical drama rather bludgeoning it into submission. Arrau was also highly impressive in this work during his heyday years.

Listening to this performance one knows why they call Brendel "The architect". There's not a note in the whole performance which is not perfectly placed amongst a holistic conception marked by architectural perfection and mastery.

the drama is a bit understated in this approach but I still like his phrasing

to hear Maestro Brendel played this Dante Sonate, is to have the Aufklaerung (enlightenment)... everything become clear, not only bang bang boom... but i sense "der Grund" why it is forte

Even compared with the likes of Richter, Sokolov and Pollini, for my money Brendel is still the best. With Brendel every note is placed exactly right; what you hear is the music, not the performance.

Love 12:55!!!!!!

6:00

I think Brendel is more true, in a sense, to the composer that most others attempting these works, in that he is very taught rhythmically and catches the contrasting moods and flow from start to end. This seems more in style and is very much part of the expression of the music. So his performances are certainly not only showmanship, although they are full of bravura of the right kind.

이거만한 해석이 없다.. 특히 06:00은 가슴이 미어진다

7:29

'Brendel has all of the qualifications to give a great performance of this work --intellect, innate musicality' - but I fear n o t the appropriate sound for Liszt. Just compare him to Arrau´s marvellous performance!

Now I turn my attention to Liszt. Would Chopin have dared to write anything that even comes close to the dramatic power of Liszt ?? I think not!

An appropriate sound for different composers is a matter of taste. Most of Liszt's piano music is unabashed, narcissistic showmanship. The musical meaning is there but always takes second place to the flamboyance of the performance. With Brendel, you get the formidable technical display as well as the elevation of musical meaning to the same level. He doesn't blow your socks off with the energy of a Horowitz, but he does draw you into the meaning of the piece very effectively

Chopin verses Liszt? For my money Chopin wouldn't stand up to Liszt!

Brendel has to be one the most overrated pianists ever. PS: I have heard him play Liszt live, nothing to write home about.

Sterile. Thumbs down!