Liszt: Complete Piano Music Volume 17

Ottawa Citizen

June 2001

“Valerie Tryon, who established her career in England before moving to Canada in 1971, is another fine pianist, though not as well-known or as super-virtuosic as Hamelin. A co-founder of the Rembrandt Trio (with Gerard Kantarjian, violin, and Coenraad Bloemendal, cello), Tryon plays music from all centuries and is said to have some 50 concertos in her repertoire. She has especially espoused Liszt, and for her interpretations was awarded, in 1986, the Ferenc Liszt Medal of Honour by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture. It is no surprise, therefore, that Naxos has called upon Tryon to contribute to its "Complete Piano Music of Liszt" series, the most recent addition of which offers 19 Liszt transcriptions of Schubert songs, including six Muller-Lieder, the four-song Geistliche Lieder, Erlkonig, Die Forelle and other well-known items. The fascination here arises from the manner in which Liszt manipulates and decorates Schubert's relatively straightforward lyrical ideas. Turning to Valerie Tryon after listening to Marc-Andre Hamelin, one is immediately aware of the former's softer, less-percussive touch, and a complete lack of exhibitionism on her part. These are eminently sane, beautifully balanced, unexaggerated readings that will offer much pleasure to lovers of Schubert's melodies.”