Chiyan Wong - Liszt Transfigured

The Guardian 80

Chiyan Wong
(Linn)

This debut disc from pianist Chiyan Wong is a bit of a guilty pleasure. Liszt’s operatic fantasies are gloriously over the top – unapologetic showcases for the composer’s phenomenal technique and ability to shape a melodic line while the piano explodes around it. Wong skilfully balances fire, flair and levity, and has a knack for nudging the melodies gently round their corners. In the Lisztian spirit, he even adds a few ideas of his own. The Grande Fantaisie on Pacini’s opera Niobe starts playfully then melts into a slow section of ethereal, held-breath delicacy. The Réminiscences on Halévy’s La Juive, plus two better-known Mozart fantasies, complete the selection. The Fantasie on themes from Figaro and Don Giovanni garlands Figaro’s Non più andrai with as many notes as even this tune’s sturdy branches can hold. Listen to all four together and you might feel queasy; one at a time is a treat.