Francis Hueffer (1845-89) was born and studied music in Germany, but moved to London in 1869 to pursue a career as a critic and writer on music. He edited the series 'The Great Musicians' for Novello and Co., was music critic of The Times, wrote libretti for some now-forgotten operas, and was an early advocate and interpreter to the British of Wagner. As well as writing Wagner in his own 'Great Musicians' series (1881), and Richard Wagner and the Music of the Future (1874), he translated the correspondence of Wagner and Liszt. This fascinating two-volume selection, published in 1888, covers the period 1841-61. Hueffer signals in his preface the importance to Wagner of the encouragement of Liszt - an established performer when Wagner was barely known and widely ridiculed, a musical mentor, an enthusiastic critic and eventually a father-in-law.

Francis Hueffer (1845-89) was born and studied music in Germany, but moved to London in 1869 to pursue a career as a critic and writer on music. He edited the series 'The Great Musicians' for Novello and Co., was music critic of The Times, wrote libretti for some now-forgotten operas, and was an early advocate and interpreter to the British of Wagner. As well as writing Wagner in his own 'Great Musicians' series (1881), and Richard Wagner and the Music of the Future (1874), he translated the correspondence of Wagner and Liszt. This fascinating two-volume selection, published in 1888, covers the period 1841-61. Hueffer signals in his preface the importance to Wagner of the encouragement of Liszt - an established performer when Wagner was barely known and widely ridiculed, a musical mentor, an enthusiastic critic and eventually a father-in-law.

Masterful transcriptions include Rossini's "La Danza," Bach's "Organ Fantasy and Fugue in G minor," Beethoven's "Joyous gathering of the peasants" from the "Pastorale" Symphony, Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" and "Dance of the Elves" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, "The Trout" and "Erlkonig" by Schubert, the "Polonaise" from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, and many others.

The third concert etude in D-flat major from Liszt's Trois etudes de concert will challenge advanced pianists with its constant hand-crossings and varying number of cascading notes per measure in the accompaniment. A lovely pentatonic melody is embedded in the rolling arpeggio-like patterns, frequently played by alternating hands throughout the piece. Keeping this cantando melodic line distinct and phrased while transparently maintaining the flowing accompaniment is the primary challenge of this masterwork. This edition is based on Musikalische Werke herausgegeben von der Franz Liszt-Stifung, Series II, edited by Ferruccio Busoni.

Recording of pianist Lazar Berman's renowned concert in Tokyo in 1988. The works performed are 'Apres une Lecture de Dante', 'Sposalizio' and 'Annees de Pelerinage II - Italie, Venezia and Napoli', by Franz Liszt; 'Moment Musical No. 4 in E minor, Op. 16 No. 4', by Sergei Rachmanainov; 'Ave Maria' arr. Liszt, by Franz Peter Schubert; 'Piano Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 11', by Robert Schumann and 'Isoldes Liebestod' arr. Liszt, by Richard Wagner.