Liszt My Piano Hero

Lang Lang, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Valery Gergiev Sony Classical 88697891402***

Lang Lang's contribution to the Liszt bicentenary celebrations seems actually to be more about Lang himself than Liszt. There's an accompanying 10-minute DVD showing Lang at work in the recording studio, but most of the talk is from the piano technician (praising Lang) or of Lang videoing himself in a mirror, telling Liszt about the New York and Hamburg Steinways he used, how hard it all was. 'Nuff said. The playing is of the kind that sets out to impress, which it does more frequently in passages of precipitous dashing or clamorous climaxing than in moments of reflection. The First Concerto with Gergiev comes across more effectively than most of the solo pieces. And if Liszt is really Lang's hero, what's Horowitz's bowdlerisation of HungarianRhapsody No 15 doing here? One for the fans. See url.ie/d2lo