Etudes d'execution transcendante

His charisma, flamboyant virtuosity and outward appearance connect Yoav Levanon with his idol Franz Liszt. The young Israeli pianist has already recorded important works by the Romantic musical genius for Warner, including the Sonata in B minor (2022), the two piano concertos and the Danse macabre (2024). With the twelve Études d'exécution transcendante, Yoav Levanon continues his Liszt cycle – once again demonstrating his often admired ability to master even the most difficult challenges with supernatural ease, extreme expressivity and overwhelming musical imagination. Liszt worked for approximately a quarter century, at intervals, on his Études d'exécution transcendante. With suggestive titles that evoke inner images and stories, such as Mazeppa, Feux follets and Wild Hunt, they rank among the composer's most important works – and also among the most difficult ever written for piano. With his new recording, Yoav Levanon wants to counter the persistent misconception that technique is the only thing that matters: "This project was never about virtuosity for its own sake. Rather, it was about what virtuosity can reveal to us. Each piece is a universe unto itself, that takes us to vast inner landscapes, full of hidden colours and meanings that require much more than mere genius." Who better than Yoav Levanon – certified by the British music magazine Gramophone as someone with "complete creative freedom" and the ability to "practically do anything he wants" – could put these in the spotlight?